Jonathan Martin

Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics

A First Course

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics: A First Course provides an introduction to the physical and mathematical description of mid-latitude atmospheric dynamics and its application to the diagnosis of extratropical cyclones. Requring a background in physics and calculus but no prior knowledge of meteorology, this student-friendly text places the emphasis on conceptual understanding.

Written in a conversation tone, this text is an ideal companion for a first course on the subject, delving into greater depth as the book, and the student, progresses. Real weather examples are woven through the more mathematically focused early chapters, while later chapters introduce a range of case-studies from the around the globe to illustrate theoretical and phenomenological aspects of the mid-latitude cyclone life cycle.
_ features end of chapter bibliography and problems
_ takes a conceptual building block approach
_ includes numerous real weather examples from around the globe

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley & Sons
• 1. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 336
• Erscheinungstermin: 12. Mai 2006
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 243mm x 169mm x 22mm
• Gewicht: 645g
• ISBN-13: 9780470864654
• ISBN-10: 0470864656
• Artikelnr.: 20834020

Autorenporträt

Jonathan E. Martin is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he has taught since 1994. He has received numerous accolades for his teaching including the Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award and is a Fellow in the Teaching Academy of the University of Wisconsin. His teaching excellence is allied with research expertise in the study of mid-latitude weather systems. Professor Martin has published extensively in scholarly journals and was awarded the distinction of being named a Mark H. Ingraham Distinguished Faculty Member by the College of Letters and Science at UW-Madison.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction and Review of Mathematical Tools.
Objectives. 1.1 Fluids and the nature of fluid dynamics. 1.2 Review of
useful mathematical tools. 1.3 Estimating with scale analysis. 1.4 Basic
kinematics of fluids. 1.5 Mensuration. Selected references. Problems.
Solutions. 2. Fundamental and Apparent Forces. Objectives. 2.1 The
fundamental forces. 2.2 Apparent forces. Selected references. Problems.
Solutions. 3. Mass, Momentum, and Energy: The Fundamental Quantities of the
Physical World. Objectives. 3.1 Mass in the Atmosphere. 3.2 Conservation of
momentum: The equations of motion. 3.3 Conservation of energy: The energy
equation. Selected references. Problems. Solutions. 4. Applications of the
Equations of Motion. Objectives. 4.1 Pressure as a vertical coordinate. 4.2
Potential temperature as a vertical coordinate. 4.3 The thermal wind
balance. 4.4 Natural coordinates and balanced flows. 4.5 The relationship
between trajectories and streamlines. Selected references. Problems.
Solutions. 5. Circulation, Vorticity, and Divergence. Objectives. 5.1 The
Circulation theorem and its physical interpretation. 5.2 Vorticity and
potential vorticity. 5.3 The relationship between vorticity and divergence.
5.4 The quasi-geostrophic system of equations. Selected references.
Problems. Solutions. 6. The Diagnosis of Mid-Latitude Synoptic-Scale
Vertical Motions. Objectives. 6.1 The nature of the ageostrophic wind:
Isolating the acceleration vector. 6.2 The Sutcliffe development theorem.
6.3 The quasi-geostrophic omega equation. 6.4 The Q_-vector. Selected
references. Problems. Solutions. 7. The Vertical Circulation at Fronts.
Objectives. 7.1 The structural and dynamical characteristics of
mid-latitude fronts. 7.2 Frontogenesis and vertical motions. 7.3 The
semi-geostrophic equations. 7.4 Upper-level frontogenesis. 7.5
Precipitation processes at fronts. Selected references. Problems.
Solutions. 8. Dynamical Aspects of the Life Cycle of the Mid-Latitude
Cyclone. Objectives. 8.1 Introduction: The polar front theory of cyclones.
8.2 Basic structural and energetic characteristics of the cyclone. 8.3 The
cyclogenesis stage: The QG tendency equation perspective. 8.4 The
cyclogenesis stage: The QG omega equation perspective. 8.5 The cyclogenetic
influence of diabatic processes: Explosive cyclogenesis. 8.6 The
post-mature stage: Characteristic thermal structure. 8.7 The post-mature
stage: The QG dynamics of the occluded quadrant. 8.8 The Decay Stage.
Selected references. Problems. Solutions. 9. Potential Vorticity and
Applications to Mid-Latitude Weather Systems. Objectives. 9.1 Potential
vorticity and isentropic divergence. 9.2 Characteristics of a positive PV
anomaly. 9.3 Cyclogenesis from the PV perspective. 9.4 The influence of
diabatic heating on PV. 9.5 Additional applications of the PV perspective.
Selected references. Problems. Solutions. Appendix A: Virtual Temperature.
Bibliography. Index.