Middle Atmosphere Dynamics [Paperback]

For advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in atmospheric, oceanic, and climate science, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics is an introductory textbook on the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean and their interaction, with an emphasis on global scales. It will give students a good grasp of what the atmosphere and oceans look like on the large-scale and why they look that way. The role of the oceans in climate and paleoclimate is also discussed. The combination of observations, theory and accompanying illustrative laboratory experiments sets this text apart by making it accessible to students with no prior training in meteorology or oceanography.

* Written at a mathematical level that is appealing for undergraduates and
beginning graduate students
* Provides a useful educational tool through a combination of observations and
laboratory demonstrations which can be viewed over the web
* Contains instructions on how to reproduce the simple but informative
laboratory experiments
* Includes copious problems (with sample answers) to help students learn the
material.1. Characteristics of the atmosphere. 2. The global energy balance. 3. The vertical structure of the atmosphere. 4. Convection. 5. The Meridional structure of the atmosphere. 6. The equations of fluid motion. 7. Balanced flow. 8. The general circulation of the atmosphere. 9. The ocena and its circulation. 10. The wind-driven circulation. 11. The thermohaline circulation of the ocean. 12. Climate and climate variability. 13. Appendices.The first integrated approach to the study of atmospheres and oceans as a coupled systemJames R. Holton was Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington until his death in 2004. A member of the National Academies of Science, during his career he was awarded every major honor available in the atmospheric sciences including AGU's Revelle ló