The Handbook of Meteorology

by Frank R. Spellman

Overview

TheHandbook of Meteorology gives specialists and non-specialists alike a clear understanding of the way our weather functions. It provides scientific answers to questions that arise when looking at the world around us. It starts with the basics of weather—temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind—before moving on to cover highs, lows, fronts, and storms, and finally ending with a look at weather forecasts, cloud watching, weather tools, and much more. The Handbook of Meteorology provides a condensed but all-inclusive broad sweep of meteorology, employing several illustrations to translate detailed technical information into terms that everyone can follow and readily refer to. It is a comprehensive reference for any budding meteorologist or environmental professional in the field, laboratory, or classroom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810886131
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/06/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	236
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Frank R. Spellman is the author or co-author of more than 70 books on the natural sciences, as well as environmental and health sciences. He has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice, a variety of law firms, and a number of non-governmental organizations on environmental issues and health-related matters. He is formerly an assistant professor of environmental health at Old Dominion University.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Part 1 Introduction 1

1 Setting the Stage 2

U.S. National Weather Service 3

Weather and Climate 14

Meteorology: The Science of Weather 15

Wind and Breezes 16

Air Masses 18

Thermal Inversions and Air Pollution 18

References and Recommended Reading 19

Part 2 Meteorological Basics 21

2 Weather Elements 22

Air Pressure 23

Precipitation 25

Wind 27

Air Temperature 29

Relative Humidity 31

Solar Energy 32

Evaporation 33

Pollution 33

Cloud Heights 33

Gas Laws 34

Boyle's Law 34

Charles's Law 35

Ideal Gas Law 36

Flow Rate 38

Gas Conversions 38

Major Constituents 39

Both Major and Minor Constituents 39

Minor Constituents 40

Gas Density 40

Heat Capacity and Enthalpy 41

Heat and Energy in the Atmosphere 41

Adiabatic Lapse Rate 41

Viscosity 42

References and Recommended Reading 43

3 The Atmosphere 44

Earth's Thin Skin 47

The Troposphere 48

The Stratosphere 49

A Jekyll-and-Hyde View of the Atmosphere 49

Atmospheric Particulate Matter 50

References and Recommended Reading 51

4 Moisture in the Atmosphere 52

Cloud Formation 53

Major Cloud Types 54

Moisture in the Atmosphere 56

References and Recommended Reading 57

5 Precipitation and Evapotranspiration 58

Phases of Precipitation 60

Precipitation 62

Coalescence 62

Bergeron Process 63

Types of Precipitation 64

Convectional Precipitation 64

Orographic Precipitation 64

Frontal Precipitation 65

Evapotranspiration 65

Evaporation 65

Transpiration 66

The Process of Evapotranspiration 66

References and Recommended Reading 67

6 The Seasons 68

Why Do We Have the Seasons? 69

Why Are Sunrise and Sunset Not Exactly 12 Hours Apart at Equinox? 71

Heat Island Effect in Large Cities 71

Anthropogenic (Human-Caused) Effects on Precipitation 73

References and Recommended Reading 75

7 Earth's Radiation Budget 77

Energy 78

Potential Energy 78

Kinetic Energy 78

Thermal Properties 80

Specific Heat 81

Transferring Energy 81

Earth's Heat Balance 83

Earth's Radiation Budget 83

Reradiation 84

Insolation 86

Solar Constant 86

Transparency 87

Daylight Duration 87

Angle of Sun's Ray 88

Heat Distribution 88

Differential Heating 88

Transport of Heat 89

Global Distribution of Heat 89

Albedo 90

Scattering 91

Absorption 92

Climate Change and Greenhouse Effect 92

The Past 94

Greenhouse Effect 100

References and Recommended Reading 104

Part 3 Weather and Climate 105

8 The Science of Weather and Climate 106

Meteorology: The Science of Weather 107

El Niño / Southern Oscillation 108

Air Masses 109

Optical Phenomena 113

Fata Morgana 115

References and Recommended Reading 116

9 Microclimates 118

Types of Microclimates 119

Microclimates Near the Ground 120

Microclimates Over Open Land Areas 120

Microclimates in Woodlands or Forested Areas 121

Microclimates in Valley and Hillside Regions 121

Microclimates in Urban Areas 122

Microclimates in Seaside Locations 122

References and Recommended Reading 123

Part 4 Atmospheric Dynamics 125

10 The Atmosphere in Motion 126

Global Air Movement 127

Earth's Atmosphere in Motion 128

Causes of Air Motion 128

Local and World Air Circulation 133

Blowing in the Wind … 136

References and Recommended Reading 138

11 Weather Forecasting Tools 139

Butterfly Effect 139

Predicting Weather 140

Meteorological Tools 140

Wind Speed 141

Wind Direction 145

Temperature and Temperature Difference 147

Radiation 148

Mixing Height 149

System Performance 150

Quality Assurance and Quality Control 152

References and Recommended Reading 154

Glossary 155

Index 217

About the Author 223

Editorial Reviews

'Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.' Now Scarecrow Press has done something about it by publishing TheHandbook of Meteorology. This 'reference-y' title is an introduction to the concepts and theory behind daily weather. Focused on the U.S., this slim volume provides a scientific yet practical background on the causes of daily weather patterns. The work consists of concise chapters covering every aspect of meteorology, including the elements of weather, the atmosphere, precipitation and moisture, radiation, the seasons, microclimates, and weather forecasting. Some sections contain mathematical equations, but most are accessible to even the least scientific reader. The writing is very idiosyncratic and folksy, which is rare for a scientific work but welcome. Every chapter begins with a poem and/or famous quotation on the weather, and interesting 'Did you know?' facts are scattered throughout. A glossary of terms is provided as an appendix....This will be a good addition to any library collection—and will let users learn more about this topic that everyone is talking about.” —Booklist

“A comprehensive reference for any budding meteorologist of environmental professional in the field, laboratory or classroom.” —Bare Essentials Magazine

“Spellman (environmental health, Old Dominion Univ.) has written numerous science books for general audiences. Here, he provides a readable account of the basic properties of Earth's atmosphere and some of the processes that occur within the atmosphere. The book adopts a more philosophical perspective than most introductory textbooks (e.g., it addresses the history of weather forecasting in the US). Spellman's book shares some similarities with Atmospheric Processes and Systems, by R. D. Thompson (CH, Apr'99, 36-4543), though Thompson's book is structured more as a mid-level textbook for nonspecialists. The book treats many foundational topics well, and the glossary is a very useful expansion of NOAA's listing of weather terms (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/glossary.htm). Summing Up: Recommended.” —Choice Reviews

From the Publisher

Spellman (environmental health, Old Dominion Univ.) has written numerous science books for general audiences. Here, he provides a readable account of the basic properties of Earth's atmosphere and some of the processes that occur within the atmosphere. The book adopts a more philosophical perspective than most introductory textbooks (e.g., it addresses the history of weather forecasting in the US). Spellman's book shares some similarities with Atmospheric Processes and Systems, by R. D. Thompson (CH, Apr'99, 36-4543), though Thompson's book is structured more as a mid-level textbook for nonspecialists. The book treats many foundational topics well, and the glossary is a very useful expansion of NOAA's listing of weather terms (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/glossary.htm). Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews

'Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.' Now Scarecrow Press has done something about it by publishing TheHandbook of Meteorology. This 'reference-y' title is an introduction to the concepts and theory behind daily weather. Focused on the U.S., this slim volume provides a scientific yet practical background on the causes of daily weather patterns. The work consists of concise chapters covering every aspect of meteorology, including the elements of weather, the atmosphere, precipitation and moisture, radiation, the seasons, microclimates, and weather forecasting. Some sections contain mathematical equations, but most are accessible to even the least scientific reader. The writing is very idiosyncratic and folksy, which is rare for a scientific work but welcome. Every chapter begins with a poem and/or famous quotation on the weather, and interesting 'Did you know?' facts are scattered throughout. A glossary of terms is provided as an appendix....This will be a good addition to any library collection—and will let users learn more about this topic that everyone is talking about.

Booklist

A comprehensive reference for any budding meteorologist of environmental professional in the field, laboratory or classroom.

Bare Essentials Magazine

Spellman (environmental health, Old Dominion Univ.) has written numerous science books for general audiences. Here, he provides a readable account of the basic properties of Earth's atmosphere and some of the processes that occur within the atmosphere. The book adopts a more philosophical perspective than most introductory textbooks (e.g., it addresses the history of weather forecasting in the US). Spellman's book shares some similarities with Atmospheric Processes and Systems, by R. D. Thompson (CH, Apr'99, 36-4543), though Thompson's book is structured more as a mid-level textbook for nonspecialists. The book treats many foundational topics well, and the glossary is a very useful expansion of NOAA's listing of weather terms (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/glossary.htm). Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice

Spellman (environmental health, Old Dominion Univ.) has written numerous science books for general audiences. Here, he provides a readable account of the basic properties of Earth's atmosphere and some of the processes that occur within the atmosphere. The book adopts a more philosophical perspective than most introductory textbooks (e.g., it addresses the history of weather forecasting in the US). Spellman's book shares some similarities with Atmospheric Processes and Systems, by R. D. Thompson (CH, Apr'99, 36-4543), though Thompson's book is structured more as a mid-level textbook for nonspecialists. The book treats many foundational topics well, and the glossary is a very useful expansion of NOAA's listing of weather terms (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/glossary.htm). Summing Up: Recommended.

CHOICE

'Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.' Now Scarecrow Press has done something about it by publishing TheHandbook of Meteorology. This 'reference-y' title is an introduction to the concepts and theory behind daily weather. Focused on the U.S., this slim volume provides a scientific yet practical background on the causes of daily weather patterns. The work consists of concise chapters covering every aspect of meteorology, including the elements of weather, the atmosphere, precipitation and moisture, radiation, the seasons, microclimates, and weather forecasting. Some sections contain mathematical equations, but most are accessible to even the least scientific reader. The writing is very idiosyncratic and folksy, which is rare for a scientific work but welcome. Every chapter begins with a poem and/or famous quotation on the weather, and interesting 'Did you know?' facts are scattered throughout. A glossary of terms is provided as an appendix....This will be a good addition to any library collection—and will let users learn more about this topic that everyone is talking about.

Booklist