Dryland Climatology
Cambridge University Press, 10/1/2010
EAN 9780521516495, ISBN10: 0521516498
Hardcover, 600 pages, 28.3 x 22.8 x 2.7 cm
Language: English
A comprehensive review of dryland climates and their relationship to the physical environment, hydrology, and inhabitants. Chapters are divided into five major sections on background meteorology and climatology; the nature of dryland climates in relation to precipitation and hydrology; the climatology and climate dynamics of the major dryland regions on each continent; and life and change in the world's drylands. It includes key topics such as vegetation, geomorphology, desertification, micro-habitats, and adaptation to dryland environments. This interdisciplinary volume provides an extensive review of the primary literature (covering nearly 2000 references) and the conventional and satellite datasets that form key research tools for dryland climatology. Illustrated with over 300 author photographs, it presents a unique view of dryland climates for a broad spectrum of researchers, environmental professionals and advanced students in climatology, meteorology, geography, environment science, earth system science, ecology, hydrology and geomorphology.
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. The Dryland Environment
1. Introduction to dryland environments
2. The geomorphologic background
3. Vegetation of the dryland regions
Part II. The Meteorological Background
4. The general atmospheric circulation
5. The global distribution of arid climates and rainfall
6. Radiation, heat and surface exchange processes
7. Water balance
8. Evaporation
Part III. The Climatic Environment of Drylands
9. Defining aridity
the classification and character of dryland climates
10. Desert microclimate
11. Precipitation in the drylands
12. Hydrologic processes in the drylands
13. Desert winds and dust
Part IV. The Earth's Dry Lands
14. North America
15. South America
16. Subsaharan Africa
17. The Mediterranean lands
18. Australia
19. Asia
20. Coastal deserts
Part V. Life and Change in the Dryland Regions
21. Drought and other hazards
22. Desertification
23. People in the dryland environments
24. Plant and animal life in the desert
25. Climatic variability and climatic change
Index.