Weather, Climate and Climate Change: Human Perspectives

A timely and accessible analysis of one of the most contentious issues facing the world today - the processes and consequences of natural and human induced changes in both the structure and function of the climate system.

Integrating the latest scientific developments throughout, the text centres on climate change control, addressing how weather and climate impact on environment and society.

1. Introduction
2. Mass Components of the Climate System
3. Energy in the Climate System
4. Motions of the Climate System
5. Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions
6. Changes in the Climate System
7. Modelling the Climate System
8. Weather, Climate and Climate Change of the High Latitudes
9. Weather, Climate and Climate Change of the Mid Latitude Oceanic Margins
10. Weather, Climate and Climate Change of the Mid Latitude Continental Interiors
11. Weather, Climate and Climate Change of the Low Latitudes
12. Human Adjustment to Climate Change

• An introductory examination of the major components of the climate system including: the impact of mass energy on wind motion, atmosphere/ocean interactions, synoptic weather systems, local and urban climates, air pollution episodes, ice cores and ice ages, global warming and climate extremes including drought, storm and flood.
• Detailed analysis of how future weather and climates can be modelled.
• Investigates climate and climate change within a regional framework and through the examination of the climate of high, middle and low latitudes.
• Case studies illustrate and synthesise the main themes within the text.
• A chapter on climate-human adjustment draws on case studies from both the developed and developing world to explore critical issues such as the varying adaptive capacity, vulnerability and risk of regions and societies to extreme weather events.