Fundamentals of physics and chemistry of the atmosphere : with 14 tables

This book takes an introductory look at the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere and the climate dynamics. It provides the basics in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, radiation and chemistry and explains the most interesting problems existing in the study of the atmosphere of the Earth and planets. This book also offers the computer programs to solve these problems. Themes covered include the most recent evolution concerning the ozone hole, the carbon dioxide problem, and chaos theory. This Book Is Intended Mainly As An Introductory Course To The Physics And Chemistry Of The Atmosphere And To Climate Dynamics. The Basics In Thermodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Radiation And Chemistry Are Given And Aimed At Explaining The Most Interesting Problems Existing In The Study Of The Atmosphere Of The Earth And The Planets. The Originality Of The Book Is That It Even Offers The Computer Programs To Solve These Problems. A Particular Effort Is Made To Approach The Different Topics Intuitively. Among The Themes Covered Is The Most Recent Evolution Concerning The Ozone Hole, The Carbon Dioxide Problem And The Chaos Theory.--jacket. 1. Introduction. 1.1. The Essential Information. 1.2. Thermal Equilibrium. 1.3. Thermal Structure And Atmospheric Dynamics. 1.4. Conclusions -- 2. Thermodynamics Of The Atmosphere. 2.1. Simple Laws. 2.2. The Thermodynamics Of Water Vapor. 2.3. Some Effects Of Water Vapor. 2.4. The Distribution Of Water Vapor On The Planets -- 3. Radiation: The First Steps. 3.1. The Definition Of Radiometric Variables. 3.2. Solar Radiation. 3.3. Scattering And Absorption Of Solar Radiation. 3.4. Infrared Radiation -- 4. Origin And Evolution Of The Atmospheres. 4.1. The Relevant Data. 4.2. An Inventory Of The Volatile Elements. 4.3. A Simple Model For The Nebula. 4.4. The Chemical Composition Of The Planets. 4.5. The Escape Mechanisms. 4.6. The Steam Atmosphere -- 5. The First Laws Of Motion. 5.1. Scales And Orders Of Magnitude. 5.2. The Equations We Absolutely Need. 5.3. Vorticity And Circulation --^ 6. A Few Simple Applications. 6.1. The Isobaric Coordinate System. 6.2. The Geostrophic Motion. 6.3. The Thermal Wind. 6.4. The Natural Coordinate System -- 7. The Atmospheric Motions. 7.1. The Rossby Waves. 7.2. The Vorticity Equation. 7.3. The Thermodynamic Equation. 7.4. The Isentropic Coordinate System. 7.5. The Ertel Potential Vorticity. 7.6. The Non-stationary Solutions -- 8. The Planetary Boundary Layer. 8.1. Turbulence And Diffusion. 8.2. Turbulent Friction. 8.3. The Surface Layer. 8.4. The Ekman Layer. 8.5. The Secondary Circulation. 8.6. The Transfer Of Sensible And Latent Heat. 8.7. Turbulent Diffusion From Discrete Sources -- 9. Aerosols And Clouds. 9.1. Sources Of Atmospheric Aerosols. 9.2. The Size Distribution Of Atmospheric Aerosols. 9.3. Nucleation And Growth. 9.4. Formation And Growth Of Ice Crystals. 9.5. A Few Things About Radar. 9.6. Stratospheric Aerosols --^ 10. Waves In The Atmosphere. 10.1. Some Properties Of The Waves. 10.2. Gravity Waves In Shallow Water. 10.3. Orographic Waves. 10.4. Internal Gravity Waves. 10.5. Three Dimensional Rossby Waves. 10.6. The Physics Of Gravity Waves. 10.7. Breaking, Saturation And Turbulence In The Upper Atmosphere -- 11. The Data On The Atmospheric Circulation. 11.1. The General Features. 11.2. The Energy Budget Of The Atmosphere. 11.3. The Mean Zonal Circulation -- 12. Theories On The General Circulation Of The Atmosphere. 12.1. The Equatorial Circulation. 12.2. The General Circulation: A Reductionist Approach. 12.3. The Middle Latitude Circulation. 12.4. Energetics Of The Baroclinic Waves --^ 13. Radiation For Different Uses. 13.1. Parameterization Of Gaseous Absorption. 13.2. The Interaction Of Solar Radiation With Particulates In The Atmosphere. 13.3. Radiative Transfer In The Presence Of Scattering. 13.4. The Transfer Of Infrared Radiation. 13.5. Molecular Spectra. 13.6. Models For The Line Absorption. 13.7. [delta]-eddington In The Infrared -- 14. Simple Climate Models. 14.1. Energy Budget. 14.2. Zero Dimensional Models And Feedback. 14.3. One Dimensional Energy Balance Climate Models. 14.4. The Radiative-convective Models -- 15. The Application Of The Simple Climate Models. 15.1. The Climate System. 15.2. The Solar Radiation And The Orbital Parameters. 15.3. Some Experimental Data On The Ice Ages. 15.4. The 100 Kyear Cycle And The Lithosphere-atmosphere Coupling. 15.5. Stochastic Resonance. 15.6. The Global Warming: A Simple Exercise. 15.7. The General Circulation Models --^ 16. Chemistry Of The Troposphere. 16.1. Introduction. 16.2. A Chemistry Refresher. 16.3. The Minor Gas Inventory. 16.4. The Biogeochemical Cycle For Carbon. 16.5. Chemistry Of The Troposphere. 16.6. Modes Of A Chemical System. 16.7. Transport Of Chemical Species In The Troposphere -- 17. Dynamics Of The Middle Atmosphere. 17.1. Thermal Structure Of The Stratosphere. 17.2. The Eulerian Mean Circulation. 17.3. Tracers Transport In The Stratosphere. 17.4. Transport In Isentropic Coordinates -- 18. Stratospheric Chemistry. 18.1. The Ozone Distribution. 18.2. The Homogeneous Ozone Chemistry. 18.3. Heterogeneous Chemistry. 18.4. The Perturbations To The Ozone Layer. 18.5. Polar Ozone -- 19. Chaos In The Atmosphere. 19.1. Simple Examples From The Theory Of Dynamical Systems. 19.2. The Climate. 19.3. Is El Nino Chaotic? 19.4. Dimensions Of Weather And Climate Attractors. Guido Visconti. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [573]-584) And Index. The student who has chosen to study atmospheric physics will be familiar with the method of investigation used in physics: starting from experimental data, theories are formulated to explain them, and the same theories are extremely successful when they predict new effects.