Atmosphere and Ocean

Dr Neil Wells is a lecturer in the Oceanography department at Southampton University in ocean modeling, climate and sea air interaction. Research in, large scale ocean modelling with interests in heat fluxes and heat content change. (ii) Application of ARGO data sets to determine ocean heat content change. (iii) Links of above with air-sea interaction from seasonal to decadal change. (iv) Storm surges and tidal interaction in coastal seas and relationship to climate change.

• Series Foreword ixPreface to the Third Edition xi1 The Earth within the Solar System 11.1 The Sun and its constancy 11.2 Orbital variations in solar radiation 41.3 Radiative equilibrium temperature 81.4 Thermal inertia of the atmosphere 101.5 Albedo 141.6 The topography of the Earth’s surface 182 Composition and Physical Properties of the Ocean and Atmosphere 252.1 Evolution of the atmosphere and ocean 252.2 Present-day composition of sea water 292.3 Introduction to gases and liquids 312.4 Hydrostatic equilibrium 392.5 Adiabatic changes and potential temperature 412.6 Vertical stability of the ocean and atmosphere 463 Radiation, Temperature and Stability 533.1 Vertical variation of atmospheric constituents 533.2 The attenuation of solar radiation 583.3 Absorption of planetary radiation 653.4 Vertical temperature profile and its relation to radiation 673.5 The absorption of solar radiation in the ocean 753.6 Diurnal and seasonal temperature cycles in the ocean 784 Water in the Atmosphere 834.1 Introduction 834.2 The moist atmosphere 844.3 Measurement and observation of water vapour 864.4 Stability in a moist atmosphere 884.5 Processes of precipitation and evaporation: The formation of clouds 944.6 Macroscopic processes in cloud formation 1065 Global Budgets of Heat, Water and Salt 1115.1 The measurement of heat budgets at the surface 1115.2 Observations of surface heat fluxes and budgets 1175.3 The measurement of the water budget 1265.4 Observations of the water budget 1275.5 The salt budget of the ocean 1315.6 Temperature and salinity relationships in the ocean 1345.7 Tracers in the ocean 1416 Observations of Winds and Currents 1476.1 Measurement of winds and currents 1476.2 Scales of motion in the atmosphere and ocean 1596.3 Time averaged circulation 1646.4 Time-dependent motion 1757 The Influence of the Earth’s Rotation on Fluid Motion 1817.1 An introduction to the Earth’s rotation 1817.2 Inertial motion 1847.3 Pressure gradients and geostrophic motion 1877.4 Vorticity and circulation 1977.5 The atmosphere and ocean boundary layers 2067.6 Equatorial winds and currents 2108 Waves and Tides 2198.1 The spectrum of surface waves 2198.2 Wind waves and swell 2238.3 Long waves 2308.4 Internal waves 2348.5 Ocean tides 2378.6 Storm surges 2448.7 Atmospheric waves and tides 2499 Energy Transfer in the Ocean-Atmosphere System 2539.1 Modes of energy in the ocean–atmosphere system 2539.2 The kinetic energy of the atmosphere and ocean 2599.3 Mechanisms of kinetic energy transfer 2629.4 General circulation of the atmosphere 2719.5 General circulation of the ocean 27710 Mathematical Modelling of the Ocean and Atmosphere 28310.1 Introduction 28310.2 Scientific modelling: A simple model of the surface layer of the ocean 28410.3 A dynamical model of the ocean surface layer 28810.4 Numerical solutions of mathematical models 29110.5 Numerical solutions for momentum on a rotating Earth 29310.6 Atmospheric and climate general circulation models 29510.7 Global ocean models 30110.8 Observations of the ocean and atmosphere 30511 Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction 31511.1 Air-sea interaction: An introduction 31511.2 Seasonal anomalies of the ocean-land-atmosphere system 32211.3 Interannual fluctuations in the ocean-atmosphere system 32611.4 Decadal variations in the ocean-atmosphere system 33212 Climate Change 33712.1 Past climate observations 33712.2 Mechanisms of climate change 34112.3 Current climate change 34612.4 Understanding recent climate change 35012.5 Predicting future climate 351Problems 353Glossary 369General Reading 377Further Reading and References 379Figure Sources 385AppendicesA Standard International (SI) Units 391B SI Unit Prefixes 391Index 393

“This book is commendable for attempting such an approach to educate a new generation of scientists armed with a unifying view of the ocean and atmosphere. It is a unique book for those who seek knowledge of not only oceanor atmosphere but also their commonality, distinction, and interaction.”  (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 1 November 2012)"I highly recommend the comprehensive and readily understandable book The Atmosphere and Ocean: A Physical Introduction, 3rd Edition by Neil C. Wells, to any advanced undergraduate students in meteorology, climatology, oceanography, and earth sciences. The book is valuable as well as to any business leaders and public policy makers seeking an approachable book on the topic of the interdependency between the ocean and atmosphere. This book is an excellent and accessible textbook on the topic and should be given priority for anyone interested in learning and understanding the principles of the interrelationship between the planet's atmosphere and its ocean." (Blog Business World, 26 February 2012)