Global Physical Climatology, Third Edition delineates the science of climate and climate change that spans the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. The book begins with a detailed introduction of the climate system and then introduces its physics, including the principles and processes that determine the structure and climate of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. More advanced sections apply the basic knowledge introduced earlier in the text in understanding natural variability of the climate in both the present and past, the sensitivity of climate to external forces, explanations for the ice ages, and the science of human-induced climate change.
The physical principles and computer models necessary for understanding past climate and predicting future climate are also discussed. This book is recommended for upper division undergraduates and graduates in meteorology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and other environmental fields. It is also suitable for students with a background of at least one year of college physics and calculus as well as researchers in academia, government (military, NOAA, NWS), and policymakers.
1. Chapter 1. Introduction to the Climate System - p. 1 2. Chapter 2. The global energy balance - p. 25 3. Chapter 3. Atmospheric radiative transfer and climate - p. 49 4. Chapter 4. The energy balance of the surface - p. 101 5. Chapter 5. The hydrologic cycle - p. 139 6. Chapter 6. Atmospheric general circulation and climate - p. 169 7. Chapter 7. The ocean general circulation and climate - p. 205 8. Chapter 8. Natural intraseasonal and interannual variability - p. 245 9. Chapter 9. History and evolution of Earth’s climate - p. 267 10. Chapter 10. Climate sensitivity and feedback mechanisms - p. 303 11. Chapter 11. Global climate models - p. 355 12. Chapter 12. Natural climate change - p. 397 13. Chapter 13. Anthropogenic Climate Change - p. 435 14. A. Calculation of insolation under current conditions - p. 481 15. Appendix B. Symbol definitions - p. 485 16. APPENDIX C. Système international (SI) units - p. 499 17. Appendix D. Useful numerical values - p. 505 18. Appendix E. Answers to selected exercises - p. 507 19. References - p. 513 20. Index - p. 535
Global Physical Climatology, Third Edition delineates the science of climate and climate change that spans the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. The book begins with a detailed introduction of the climate system and then introduces its physics, including the principles and processes that determine the structure and climate of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. More advanced sections apply the basic knowledge introduced earlier in the text in understanding natural variability of the climate in both the present and past, the sensitivity of climate to external forces, explanations for the ice ages, and the science of human-induced climate change.
The physical principles and computer models necessary for understanding past climate and predicting future climate are also discussed. This book is recommended for upper division undergraduates and graduates in meteorology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and other environmental fields. It is also suitable for students with a background of at least one year of college physics and calculus as well as researchers in academia, government (military, NOAA, NWS), and policymakers.
1. Chapter 1. Introduction to the Climate System - p. 1 2. Chapter 2. The global energy balance - p. 25 3. Chapter 3. Atmospheric radiative transfer and climate - p. 49 4. Chapter 4. The energy balance of the surface - p. 101 5. Chapter 5. The hydrologic cycle - p. 139 6. Chapter 6. Atmospheric general circulation and climate - p. 169 7. Chapter 7. The ocean general circulation and climate - p. 205 8. Chapter 8. Natural intraseasonal and interannual variability - p. 245 9. Chapter 9. History and evolution of Earth’s climate - p. 267 10. Chapter 10. Climate sensitivity and feedback mechanisms - p. 303 11. Chapter 11. Global climate models - p. 355 12. Chapter 12. Natural climate change - p. 397 13. Chapter 13. Anthropogenic Climate Change - p. 435 14. A. Calculation of insolation under current conditions - p. 481 15. Appendix B. Symbol definitions - p. 485 16. APPENDIX C. Système international (SI) units - p. 499 17. Appendix D. Useful numerical values - p. 505 18. Appendix E. Answers to selected exercises - p. 507 19. References - p. 513 20. Index - p. 535
