Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Dr Houghton has revised the acclaimed first edition of The Physics of Atmospheres in order to bring this important textbook completely up-to-date. Several factors have led to vigorous growth in the atmospheric sciences, particularly the availability of powerful computers for detailed modelling, the investigation of the atmospheres of other planets, and techniques of remote sensing. The author describes the physical processes governing the structure and circulation of the atmosphere. Simple physical models are constructed by applying the principles of classical thermodynamics, radiative transfer and fluid mechanics, together with analytic and numerical techniques. These models are applied to real planetary atmospheres. This new edition is essential for undergraduates or graduate students studying atmospheric physics, climatology or meteorology, as well as planetary scientists with an interest in atmospheres.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface to first edition (p. xiii)
• Preface to second edition (p. xv)
• Acknowledgements (p. xvi)
• 1 Some basic ideas (p. 1)
• 1.1 Planetary atmospheres (p. 1)
• 1.2 Equilibrium temperatures (p. 2)
• 1.3 Hydrostatic equation (p. 3)
• 1.4 Adiabatic lapse rate (p. 4)
• 1.5 Sandstrom's theorem (p. 5)
• Problems (p. 7)
• 2 A radiative equilibrium model (p. 9)
• 2.1 Black-body radiation (p. 9)
• 2.2 Absorption and emission (p. 10)
• 2.3 Radiative equilibrium in a grey atmosphere (p. 12)
• 2.4 Radiative time constants (p. 15)
• 2.5 The greenhouse effect (p. 15)
• Problems (p. 17)
• 3 Thermodynamics (p. 19)
• 3.1 Entropy of dry air (p. 19)
• 3.2 Vertical motion of saturated air (p. 19)
• 3.3 The tephigram (p. 22)
• 3.4 Total potential energy of an air column (p. 23)
• 3.5 Available potential energy (p. 24)
• 3.6 Zonal and eddy energy (p. 29)
• Problems (p. 30)
• 4 More complex radiation transfer (p. 39)
• 4.1 Solar radiation: its modification by scattering (p. 39)
• 4.2 Absorption of solar radiation by ozone (p. 40)
• 4.3 Absorption by single lines (p. 41)
• 4.4 Transmission of an atmospheric path (p. 44)
• 4.5 The integral equation of transfer (p. 45)
• 4.6 Integration over frequency (p. 47)
• 4.7 Heating rate due to radiative processes (p. 48)
• 4.8 Cooling by carbon dioxide emission from upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere (p. 48)
• 4.9 Band models (p. 49)
• 4.10 Continuum absorption (p. 50)
• 4.11 Global radiation budget (p. 50)
• Problems (p. 52)
• 5 The middle and upper atmospheres (p. 57)
• 5.1 Temperature structure (p. 57)
• 5.2 Diffusive separation (p. 58)
• 5.3 The escape of hydrogen (p. 59)
• 5.4 The energy balance of the thermosphere (p. 65)
• 5.5 Photochemical processes (p. 66)
• 5.6 Breakdown of thermodynamic equilibrium (p. 70)
• Problems (p. 76)
• 6 Clouds (p. 80)
• 6.1 Cloud formation (p. 80)
• 6.2 The growth of cloud particles (p. 80)
• 6.3 The radiative properties of clouds (p. 82)
• 6.4 Radiative transfer in clouds (p. 83)
• Problems (p. 85)
• 7 Dynamics (p. 88)
• 7.1 Total and partial derivatives (p. 88)
• 7.2 Equations of motion (p. 89)
• 7.3 The geostrophic approximation (p. 92)
• 7.4 Cyclostrophic motion (p. 93)
• 7.5 Surfaces of constant pressure (p. 93)
• 7.5 The thermal wind equation (p. 94)
• 7.7 The equation of continuity (p. 95)
• Problems (p. 97)
• 8 Atmospheric waves (p. 105)
• 8.1 Introduction (p. 105)
• 8.2 Sound waves (p. 105)
• 8.3 Gravity waves (p. 106)
• 8.4 Rossby waves (p. 111)
• 8.5 The vorticity equation (p. 113)
• 8.6 Three dimensional Rossby-type waves (p. 115)
• Problems (p. 118)
• 9 Turbulence (p. 126)
• 9.1 The Reynolds number (p. 126)
• 9.2 Reynolds stresses (p. 127)
• 9.3 Ekman's solution (p. 129)
• 9.4 The mixing-length hypothesis (p. 131)
• 9.5 Ekman pumping (p. 132)
• 9.6 The spectrum of atmospheric turbulence (p. 133)
• Problems (p. 136)
• 10 The general circulation (p. 138)
• 10.1 Laboratory experiments (p. 138)
• 10.2 A symmetric circulation (p. 140)
• 10.3 Inertial instability (p. 143)
• 10.4 Barotropic instability (p. 145)
• 10.5 Baroclinic instability (p. 147)
• 10.6 Sloping convection (p. 150)
• 10.7 Energy transport (p. 151)
• 10.8 Transport of angular momentum (p. 153)
• 10.9 The general circulation of the middle atmosphere (p. 156)
• Problems (p. 159)
• 11 Numerical modelling (p. 165)
• 11.1 A barotropic model (p. 165)
• 11.2 Baroclinic models (p. 166)
• 11.3 Primitive equation models (p. 168)
• 11.4 Inclusion of orography (p. 169)
• 11.5 Convection (p. 169)
• 11.6 Moist processes (p. 170)
• 11.7 Radiation transfer (p. 171)
• 11.8 Inclusion of clouds (p. 174)
• 11.9 Sub grid scale processes (p. 175)
• 11.10 Transfer across the surface (p. 176)
• 11.11 Forecasting models (p. 177)
• 11.12 Other models (p. 179)
• Problems (p. 181)
• 12 Global observation (p. 189)
• 12.1 What observations are required? (p. 189)
• 12.2 Conventional observations (p. 190)
• 12.3 Remote sounding from satellites (p. 192)
• 12.4 Remote sounding of atmospheric temperature (p. 193)
• 12.5 Remote measurements of composition (p. 199)
• 12.6 Other remote sounding observations (p. 201)
• 12.7 Observations from remote platforms (p. 203)
• 12.8 Achieving global coverage (p. 203)
• Problems (p. 205)
• 13 Atmospheric predictability and climatic change (p. 210)
• 13.1 Short-term predictability (p. 210)
• 13.2 Variations of climate (p. 212)
• 13.3 Atmospheric feedback processes (p. 213)
• 13.4 Different kinds of predictability (p. 215)
• 13.5 Jupiter's Great Red Spot (p. 216)
• 13.6 The challenge of climate research (p. 218)
• Problems (p. 219)
• Appendices (p. 224)
• 1 Some useful physical constants and data on dry air (p. 224)
• 2 Properties of water vapour (p. 225)
• 3 Atmospheric composition (p. 226)
• 4 Relation of geopotential to geometric height (p. 227)
• 5 Model atmospheres (0-105 km) (p. 227)
• 6 Mcan rcference atmosphere (110-500 km) (p. 236)
• 7 The Planck function (p. 236)
• 8 Solar radiation (p. 238)
• 9 Absorption of solar radiation by oxygen and ozone (p. 240)
• 10 Spectral band information (p. 242)
• Bibliography (p. 252)
• References to works cited in the text (p. 255)
• Answers to problems and hints to their solution (p. 259)
• Index (p. 265)