Holter

An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology
FOURTH EDITION

This is Volume 88 in the INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICS SERIES A series of monographs and textbooks Edited by RENATA DMOWSKA, JAMES R. HOLTON and H. THOMAS ROSSBY A complete list of books in this series appears at the end of this volume.

AN INTRODUCTION TO DYNAMIC METEOROLOGY
Fourth Edition
JAMES R. HOLTON
Department of AtmosphericSciences University of Washington Seattle,Washington

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C O N T E N T S

Preface

xi

Chapter 1
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

Introduction
1 2 4 4 10 19 24 26 27

The Atmospheric Continuum Physical Dimensions and Units Scale Analysis Fundamental Forces Noninertial Reference Frames and “Apparent” Forces Structure of the StaticAtmosphere Problems MATLAB Exercises Suggested References

Chapter 2
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

Basic Conservation Laws
29 33 34 38 42 46 49 v

Total Differentiation The Vectorial Form of the Momentum Equation in Rotating Coordinates Component Equations in Spherical Coordinates Scale Analysis of the Equations of Motion The Continuity Equation The Thermodynamic Energy EquationThermodynamics of the Dry Atmosphere

vi

contents

Problems MATLAB Exercises Suggested References

54 55 56

Chapter 3
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6

Elementary Applications of the Basic Equations
57 60 68 70 75 77 79 83

Basic Equations in Isobaric Coordinates Balanced Flow Trajectories and Streamlines The Thermal Wind Vertical Motion Surface Pressure Tendency Problems MATLAB ExercisesChapter 4
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6

Circulation and Vorticity
86 91 95 100 106 108 111 113 114

The Circulation Theorem Vorticity Potential Vorticity The Vorticity Equation Vorticity in Barotropic Fluids The Baroclinic (Ertel) Potential Vorticity Equation Problems MATLAB Exercises Suggested References

Chapter 5
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4

The Planetary Boundary Layer
116 120 122 131 136 137 138Atmospheric Turbulence Turbulent Kinetic Energy Planetary Boundary Layer Momentum Equations Secondary Circulations and Spin Down Problems MATLAB Exercises Suggested References

Chapter 6
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

Synoptic-Scale Motions I: Quasi-geostrophic Analysis
140 146 155 164 174 176 178 180

The Observed Structure of Extratropical Circulations The Quasi-Geostrophic Approximation...