Fundamentals of Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere (2nd Edition)

This ebook, Fundamentals of Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere 2nd Edition (PDF), is an introductory course to the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere and to climate dynamics. It covers the basics in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, chemistry and radiation and explains the most intriguing problems that currently exist in the study of the atmospheres of the Earth and planets. A particular effort is made to approach the different topics intuitively. Among the themes covered are the most recent evolution concerning the chemistry of polluted troposphere, the global warming problem, and chaos and nonlinear theory.

The textbook is almost completely rewritten in comparison to the older edition, with a more logical organization of the chapters. The fundamentals of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, radiation and chemistry are introduced in the first 6 chapters, including a new chapter on remote sensing. Also there is an additional chapter on geoengineering. A significant addition to the 2nd edition, at the end of every chapter, are examples where the topics introduced in the chapter are further discussed with application to classical problems or new research items. Most of these examples are accompanied by computer programs. The most crucial updates deal with the methods to evaluate GCM, the theory of the general circulation, the detailed discussion of the urban troposphere and the chaos and nonlinear phenomena.

Reviews

“The ebook deserves a particularly positive appreciation in view not only of its inherent quality and scientific rigor, but also of the bright idea of the author to merge, into a unified context, the description of the laws of atmosphere as a result of otherwise inseparable elements… this ebook is highly recommended as all-embracing and useful textbook of university courses of atmospheric physics and chemistry. Its original planning will certainly stimulate the attention of students and readers.” — A. Longretto, Il Nuovo Cimento, January, 2003

“A large part of the textbook is dedicated to atmospheric dynamics. Climate, radiation and chemistry are treated each in 2 chapters. As given in the preface, the ebook originated from an 1989 Italian popular science book and was eventually rewritten as a textbook along the lectures of the author in Environmental Science… This ebook … offers a grand tour through a complex field.” — C. Kessler, Meteorologische Zeitschrift, Vol. 12 (1), 2003