Publisher's Synopsis
The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand is written for both students and professionals from a range of disciplines who are concerned with the atmospheric processes and phenomena of this region. It covers the subject on global, synoptic and more localized scales, as well as the important issue of climatic change and variability. The first section introduces the basic science of the atmosphere, including its physical structure and composition, and the planetary circulation that lays the foundation for Australasian weather and climate. The next section describes the characteristics of air masses and atmospheric motion, explains the interactions that produce mid-latitude and tropical weather systems, and discusses weather forecasting in this region. The book then focuses on selected aspects of the mesoscale. regional and local weather systems, and on climate patterns commonly observed across urban and rural areas of Australia and New Zealand. Finally, past climate change, contemporary variability and future scenarios are examined, and the possible links between human activity and climate variability are outlined, with particular emphasis on this region. Throughout the book, many detailed illustrations and an extensive glossary will cater to readers who are just developing an interest in the subject, as well as for those engaged in research that requires a fundamental understanding of the weather and climate of this part of the southern hemisphere.
