Weather: A Concise Introduction

by Gregory J. Hakim, Jérôme Patoux

Overview

The second edition of this concise, affordable textbook is ideal for curious undergraduate majors and non-majors taking a first course in meteorology. The first two chapters introduce readers to the main concepts and tools used to analyze weather patterns. Chapters 3-8 provide a foundational understanding of the fundamental processes taking place in the atmosphere, and in Chapters 9-12 these physical concepts are applied to specific weather phenomena. Weather concepts are then used in Chapters 13-15 to explain weather forecasting, air pollution, and the impact of climate change on weather. Key concepts are illustrated through a running case study of a single mid-latitude cyclone, providing students with an opportunity to progressively develop their understanding of weather phenomena with a familiar example approached from multiple perspectives. This edition includes expanded and updated coverage of precipitation types and formation, satellite and radar technology, tornadoes, and more. It also features thought-provoking end-of-chapter review questions, new visual analysis exercises, an expanded test bank and nearly 100 new figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108965590
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/28/2021
Edition description:	2nd Revised ed.
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	8.66(w) x 10.87(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Professor Greg Hakim is a leading scientist in the areas of weather analysis, predictability and dynamics. His research interests include weather and climate prediction, hurricanes, past climates, and polar circulation patterns. He is author of over eighty scientific papers and a leading textbook on dynamic meteorology. He has served on the advisory panel for the Directorate of Geosciences at the National Science Foundation, as Chair of the advisory panel for the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), as a member of the NCAR Advisory Panel, as a member of the NCAR Strategic Planning Council, and as Chair of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's President's Advisory Committee on University Relations. He has undergraduate degrees in Math and Atmospheric Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University at Albany, State University of NY. After a postdoctoral fellowship in the Advanced Study Program at NCAR, Greg joined the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington in 1999 where he is a Professor, won the department teaching award, and served as Department Chair from 2012-2017.

Jérôme Patoux, Ph.D., is a former faculty member from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle. He earned a Master's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a doctorate in atmospheric science from the University of Washington, Seattle. He has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He has taught undergraduate introductory meteorology for many years, and has been funded by NSF to develop weather and climate curriculum. He currently teaches in the Education Division of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Table of Contents

Contents; Preface; Introduction; 1. Weather variables; 2. Spatial representations of weather data; 3. Our atmosphere: origin, composition, and structure; 4. Heat and energy transfer; 5. Water; 6. Cloud formation; 7. Precipitation; 8. Wind; 9. Global wind systems; 10. Air masses, fronts, and midlatitude cyclones; 11. Thunderstorms and tornadoes; 12. Tropical cyclones; 13. Weather forecasting; 14. Air pollution; 15. Climate change and weather; Glossary; References; Credits; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'The second edition builds on the strong foundation established by Hakim and Patoux in the first edition. This text is an excellent choice for a non-science majors class or even a first meteorology class for Earth System Science majors. The expanded Appendices and Advanced Topics Boxes allow the instructor to tailor the presentation to the class and provide the curious student with additional enrichment. Clear end of chapter summaries and the new review questions provide a level of engagement for students of many levels. The chapter-spanning case study is an excellent pedagogical tool that ties together many of the concepts presented in the text.' Professor Richard W. Dixon, Texas State University

'This textbook on atmospheric sciences is a great introduction for students without strong backgrounds in mathematics and physics. It explains a wealth of weather phenomena in concise, simple, easy to follow steps starting from first principles.' Professor Chuixiang Yi, Queens College

'This second edition is a valuable refresh of an excellent introductory undergraduate text on atmospheric science. The book manages to explain complex topics in an engaging and accessible manner, including equations (with clear worked examples) where appropriate. The extensive real world examples, including new visual analysis exercises, are a real strength. I am sure this will remain a popular text with students and instructors alike.' Professor Andrew Ross, University of Leeds

'The text has a highly logical topical layout, beginning with basic weather variables then extending into more complex processes to facilitate student comprehension. All pertinent topics are included relative to an introductory weather text but the topics extend from the basic. I especially like the chapter on forecasting as most textbooks peripherally address the topic. The language, detail, explanations, level of information, figures, pictures, and end of chapter materials are all of high quality. Overall, a great textbook!' Professor Anthony J. Vega, Clarion University

'This book offers a well-balanced combination of accessibility and rigor in its coverage of weather and climate science. The text is compelling, the illustrations are clear and helpful, and the chapters succinctly cover a great breadth of material in a way that is intuitive but also quantitative. The 2nd edition’s new material adds to this breadth with some more advanced concepts, additional important and timely topics, and a bit of historical perspective. Overall, this book provides a wonderful overview of weather and climate science for beginners, and serves as a great resource for introductory and general university courses.' Professor Juan Lora, Yale University

From the Publisher