The Emergence of Numerical Weather Prediction: Richardson's Dream
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 11/2/2006
EAN 9780521857291, ISBN10: 0521857295
Hardcover, 290 pages, 25.4 x 18 x 1.8 cm
Language: English
Lewis Fry Richardson dreamt that scientific weather prediction would one day become a practical reality. Before his ideas could bear fruit several advances were needed: better understanding of the dynamics of the atmosphere; stable computational algorithms to integrate the equations; regular observations of the free atmosphere; and powerful automatic computer equipment. By 1950 advances in all these fronts were sufficient to permit the first computer forecast to be made. Over the ensuing fifty years progress in numerical weather prediction has been dramatic. Weather prediction and climate modelling have now reached a high level of sophistication. This book, first published in 2006, tells the story of Richardson's trial forecast, and the fulfilment of his dream of practical numerical weather forecasting. It includes a complete reconstruction of Richardson's forecast, and analyses in detail the causes of his failure. This will appeal to everyone involved in numerical weather forecasting, from researchers and graduate students to professionals.
Guiding signs
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Weather and prediction by numerical process
2. The fundamental equations
3. The oscillations of the atmosphere
4. The barotropic forecast
5. The solution algorithm
6. Observations and inital fields
7. Richardson's forecast
8. Balance and initialization
9. Smoothing the forecast
10. The ENIAC integrations
11. Numerical weather prediction today
12. Fulfilment of the dream
Appendix 1. Table of notation
Appendix 2. Milestones in Richardson's life and career
Appendix 3. Laplace tidal equations
separation of variables
Appendix 4. Richardson's forecast-factory
the $64,000 question
References
Index.
'A wonderful study of the scientific history which also forms a very educational lesson in numerical weather forecasting.' Translated from La Meteorologie 'He's an expert on initialization and has repeated and extended Richardson's original computations, including his barotropic forecast, and those done by von Neumann and Charney on the ENIAC at Aberdeen, Maryland in 1950. ... This well-written history clearly displays the success and practical importance of applied mathematics. Thanks, Peter, for demonstrating that the swinging spring isn't just for fun.' SIAM Review