Mesoscale Dynamics

Mesoscale weather systems are responsible for numerous natural disasters, such as damaging winds, blizzards and flash flooding. A fundamental understanding of the underlying dynamics involved in these weather systems is essential in forecasting their occurrence. This 2007 book provides a systematic approach to this subject. The opening chapters introduce the basic equations governing mesoscale weather systems and their approximations. The subsequent chapters cover four major areas of mesoscale dynamics: wave dynamics, moist convection, front dynamics and mesoscale modelling. This is an ideal book on the subject for researchers in meteorology and atmospheric science. With over 100 problems, and password-protected solutions available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521808750, this book could also serve as a textbook for graduate students. Modelling projects, providing hands-on practice for building simple models of stratified fluid flow from a one-dimensional advection equation, are also described.

Preface;
1. Overview;
2. Governing equations for mesoscale motions;
3. Basic wave dynamics;
4. Mesoscale wave generation and maintenance;
5. Orographically forced flows;
6. Thermally forced flows;
7. Mesoscale instabilities;
8. Isolated convective storms;
9. Mesoscale convective systems;
10. Dynamics of fronts and jet streaks;
11. Dynamics of orographic precipitation;
12. Basic numerical methods;
13. Numerical modeling of geophysical fluid systems;
14. Parameterization of physical processes;
Appendices;
Index.