Physics of the Atmosphere and Climate
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 2, 3/8/2012
EAN 9780521767187, ISBN10: 0521767180
Hardcover, 718 pages, 26.7 x 19 x 4.4 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English
Murry Salby's new book provides an integrated treatment of the processes controlling the Earth-atmosphere system, developed from first principles through a balance of theory and applications. This book builds on Salby's previous book, Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics. The scope has been expanded into climate, with the presentation streamlined for undergraduates in science, mathematics and engineering. Advanced material, suitable for graduate students and as a resource for researchers, has been retained but distinguished from the basic development. The book provides a conceptual yet quantitative understanding of the controlling influences, integrated through theory and major applications. It leads readers through a methodical development of the diverse physical processes that shape weather, global energetics and climate. End-of-chapter problems of varying difficulty develop student knowledge and its quantitative application, supported by answers and detailed solutions online for instructors.
1. The Earth-atmosphere system
2. Thermodynamics of gases
3. The second law and its implications
4. Heterogeneous systems
5. Transformations of moist air
6. Hydrostatic equilibrium
7. Static stability
8. Radiative transfer
9. Aerosol and cloud
10. Atmospheric motion
11. Atmospheric equations of motion
12. Large-scale motion
13. The planetary boundary layer
14. Atmospheric waves
15. The general circulation
16. Dynamic stability
17. Influence of the ocean
18. Interaction with the stratosphere.
'The first edition is a classic. As a textbook it is unequalled in breadth, depth and lucidity. It is the single volume that I recommend to every one of my students in atmospheric science. The new edition improves over the previous edition, if that is possible at all, in three aspects: beautiful illustrations of global processes … from newly available satellite data, new topics of current interest … and a new chapter on the influence of the ocean on the atmosphere. These changes make the book more useful as a starting point for studying climate change.' Professor Yuk Yung, California Institute of Technology
'… an informative and insightful tour through the contemporary issues in the atmospheric sciences as they relate to climate … a valuable resource for educators and researchers alike, serving both as a textbook for the graduate or advanced undergraduate student with a physics or mathematics background and as an excellent reference and refresher for practitioners … a welcome addition to the field.' Professor Darin W. Toohey, University of Colorado, Boulder
'… an essential reference for researchers and graduate and advanced undergraduate students who wish to have a rigorous source for a wide range of fundamental atmospheric science topics. Atmospheric and climate scientists will find this book to be an essential one for their libraries.' Associate Professor Hampton N. Shirer, Pennsylvania State University
'I recommend [this book] as a foundation for anyone who wants to do research on the important open questions about aerosols, radiation, biogeochemistry, and ocean-atmosphere coupling.' Professor Jim McWilliams, University of California, Los Angeles