An introduction to the meteorology and climate of the tropics

Description

About the author -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Setting the scene -- 2. The energy balance and the dynamics of weather in the tropics -- 3. Winds, temperature and weather in the tropical zone -- 4. The subtropical jet streams -- 5. Synoptic-scale weather systems -- 6. Climate, flora and fauna -- 7. Dry environments -- 8. Monsoons -- 9. Tropical revolving storms -- 10. Mesoscale weather systems -- 11. Forecasting clouds and weather -- 12. The variability of weather and climate change in the tropics -- 13. Tropical agriculture -- 14. The importance of the tropical ozone layer -- 15. Remote sensing of tropical weather -- 16. Tropical weather and health -- 17. Conclusions and a look to the future -- Appendix 1. Observations from the tropics -- Appendix 2. Named winds of the tropics -- Appendix 3. An introduction to cloud types, cloud species and precipitation -- Appendix 4. An introduction to meteorological diagrams, stability, instability and aviation weather charts -- Appendix 5. Snow in the desert: a case study -- Appendix 6. A climatic summary for tropical countries and states -- Appendix 7. Two easterly waves in West Africa in summer 2009: a case study -- References -- Glossary.;What do we mean by the tropics? The weather and the climates it produces across the tropical zone are significantly different from those experienced by the people living in higher latitudes, so forecasters across Europe and much of North America are unfamiliar with its effects. In this book, Jim Galvin demystifies the topic in this zone that is increasingly of interest to those studying weather and climate. About the author -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Setting the scene -- 2. The energy balance and the dynamics of weather in the tropics -- 3. Winds, temperature and weather in the tropical zone -- 4. The subtropical jet streams -- 5. Synoptic-scale weather systems -- 6. Climate, flora and fauna -- 7. Dry environments -- 8. Monsoons -- 9. Tropical revolving storms -- 10. Mesoscale weather systems -- 11. Forecasting clouds and weather -- 12. The variability of weather and climate change in the tropics -- 13. Tropical agriculture -- 14. The importance of the tropical ozone layer -- 15. Remote sensing of tropical weather -- 16. Tropical weather and health -- 17. Conclusions and a look to the future -- Appendix 1. Observations from the tropics -- Appendix 2. Named winds of the tropics -- Appendix 3. An introduction to cloud types, cloud species and precipitation -- Appendix 4. An introduction to meteorological diagrams, stability, instability and aviation weather charts -- Appendix 5. Snow in the desert: a case study -- Appendix 6. A climatic summary for tropical countries and states -- Appendix 7. Two easterly waves in West Africa in summer 2009: a case study -- References -- Glossary.