Atmospheric Convection / Edition 1

by Kerry A. Emanuel

Overview

This graduate-level meteorology text and reference provides a scientifically rigorous description of the many types of convective circulations in the Earth's atmosphere. These range from small-scale, convectively driven turbulences in the boundary layer to precipitating systems covering many thousands of square kilometers. The text introduces the principal techniques used in understanding and predicting convective motion: theory, field experiment, and numerical modelling. Part I explores dry convection, including turbulent plumes and thermals from isolated buoyancy sources, Raleigh-Benard convection, and turbulent convection in the planetary boundary layer. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical understanding and lessons from experiments. Part II offers a complete treatment of the thermodynamics of moist and cloudy air, including fundamental laws, conserved quantities, graphical techniques, and stability. Part III explores the characteristics of individual convective clouds, thunderstorms, squall lines, mesoscale convective systems, and slantwise convection. Part IV studies the ensemble effects of convective clouds, including stratocumulus at trade cumulus boundary layers and the representation of convective clouds in numerical models. Each chapter is followed by a set of exercises.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195066302
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	01/28/1994
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	592
Sales rank:	364,726
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 6.25(h) x 1.26(d)

About the Author

Kerry A. Emanuel, Ph. D., is Professor, and Director of the Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Table of Contents

PART I: Dry Convection
1. General Principles
2. Convection from Local Sources
3. Global Convection: The Rayleigh-Benard Problem and Dry Convective Boundary Layers
PART II: Moist Thermodynamics and Stability
4. Moist Thermodynamic Processes
5. Graphical Techniques
6. Stability
PART III: Local Properties of Moist Convection
7. Observed Characteristics of Nonprecipitating Cumuli
8. Theory of Mixing in Cumulus Clouds
9. Observed Characteristics of Precipitating Convection
10. Numerical Modeling of Convective Clouds
11. Dynamics of Precipitating Convection
12. Slantwise Convection
PART IV: Global Moist Convection
13. Stratocumulus and Trade-Cumulus Boundary Layers
14. Deep Convective Regimes
15. Interaction of Convection with Large-scale Flows
16. Cumulus Representations in Numerical Models

Editorial Reviews

Arrangement is in four parts on: the comparatively well understood physics of dry convection, emphasizing ensemble properties; moist thermodynamics and the stability of moist atmospheres; the physical characteristics and dynamics of individual convective clouds and cloud systems; and the global properties of moist convection. Each chapter contains exercises. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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