Mesoscale-Convective Processes in the Atmosphere

by Robert J. Trapp

Overview

This new textbook seeks to promote a deep yet accessible understanding of mesoscale-convective processes in the atmosphere. Mesoscale-convective processes are commonly manifested in the form of thunderstorms, which are fast evolving, inherently hazardous, and can assume a broad range of sizes and severity. Modern explanations of the convective-storm dynamics, and of the related development of tornadoes, damaging “straight-line” winds, and heavy rainfall, are provided. Students and weather professionals will benefit especially from unique chapters devoted to observations and measurements of mesoscale phenomena, mesoscale prediction and predictability, and dynamical feedbacks between mesoscale-convective processes and larger-scale motions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521889421
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/25/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	377
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Robert J. Trapp received his PhD in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma in 1994. He was a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow and then was appointed as a research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Part of this appointment was spent at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Trapp joined the faculty at Purdue University in 2003: he is currently Professor and Associated Head of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. He holds the distinction as a University Faculty Scholar, awarded to outstanding faculty members who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction. Trapp has also been recognized as an Outstanding Teacher in the College of Science and has appeared on his departmental teaching honor roll in every semester of his tenure at Purdue. He is an expert on convective storms, their attendant hazards and their two-way interaction with the larger-scale atmosphere.

Table of Contents

1. The atmospheric mesoscale; 2. Theoretical foundations; 3. Observations and mesoscale data analysis; 4. Mesoscale numerical modeling; 5. The initiation of deep convective clouds; 6. Elemental convective processes; 7. Supercells: a special class of long-lived rotating convective storms; 8. Mesoscale convective systems; 9. Interactions and feedbacks; 10. Mesoscale predictability and prediction.

Editorial Reviews

"… the initial goal of the book, a study of a family of extremely complex phenomena of foremost interest in the field of atmospheric fluid mechanics, is successfully achieved."
Jose Miguel Pacheco Castelao, Mathematical Reviews

"There is … a series of online supplemental resources available for this book that could prove to be very helpful to instructors [of] mesoscale meteorology courses … presents a thorough, clear picture of the theoretical underpinnings of mesoscale processes along with recent research advances … best suited for graduate students and researchers, although much of the material should be accessible to advanced undergraduate student[s] as well. It would likely work best as a text for introductory graduate-level courses in mesoscale meteorology, and I recommend it for use in that setting …"
Russ S. Schumacher, Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

"In this book Robert J. Trapp has put together a great amount of knowledge along with very interesting material. The word that best describes it is "useful" … there is a good balance in the use of historical and current research, citing books and papers published recently and decades ago. Moreover, there are many quotes to back up the contents but at the same time the reader does not need to check the references continuously. Also most of the equations are derived and explained step by step … Therefore, this book is highly recommendable. I think that it can be useful for a wide variety of readers: for students at several levels, teachers, as a basic text for the shelves of researchers."
Juan Añel, Contemporary Physics

From the Publisher