Desert MeteorologyAridity prevails over more than one third of the land area of the Earth and over a significant fraction of the oceans as well. Yet to date there has been no comprehensive reference volume or textbook dealing with the weather processes that define the character of desert areas. Desert Meteorology fills this gap by treating all aspects of desert weather, such as large-scale and local-scale causes of aridity; precipitation characteristics in deserts; dust storms; floods; climate change in deserts; precipitation processes; desertification; land-surface physics of deserts; numerical modelling of desert atmospheres; and the effect of desert weather on humans. A summary is provided of the climates and surface properties of the desert areas of the world. The book is written with the assumption that the reader has only a basic knowledge of meteorology, physics and calculus, making it useful to those in a wide range of disciplines. It includes review questions and problems for the student. This comprehensive volume will satisfy all who need to know more about the weather and climate of arid lands. It will appeal especially to advanced students and researchers in environmental science, meteorology, physical geography, hydrology and engineering. |
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
3 The climates of the world deserts | 63 |
4 Atmospheric and surface energy budgets of deserts | 159 |
5 Surface physics of the unvegetated sandy desert landscape | 189 |
6 Vegetation effects on desert surface physics | 219 |
7 Substrate effects on desert surface physics | 245 |
8 Desertsurface physical properties | 265 |
16 Severe weather in the desert | 419 |
17 Effects of deserts on the global environment and other regional environments | 445 |
18 Desertification | 457 |
19 Biometeorology of humans in desert environments | 491 |
20 Optical properties of desert atmospheres | 519 |
Appendix A Glossary of meteorological and landsurface terms | 527 |
Appendix B Abbreviations | 535 |
Appendix C Units numerical constants and conversion factors | 536 |
9 Numerical modeling of desert atmospheres | 271 |
10 Desert boundary layers | 291 |
11 Desert microclimates | 303 |
12 Dynamic interactions among desert microclimates | 327 |
13 Desert rainfall | 347 |
14 Anthropogenic effects on the desert atmosphere | 383 |
15 Changes in desert climate | 395 |
Appendix D Symbols | 538 |
Appendix E | 541 |
Hints to solving some problems and exercises | 547 |
549 | |
587 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Adapted Africa albedo America amount annual areas arid arid areas associated atmosphere average boundary layer causes Chapter circulation climate cloud coast coastal contrast convective cooling decrease defined depth described desert desertification direction discussion distribution dunes dust east effects elevation energy estimated evaporation example exist fact factor flow flux forced greater ground heat higher horizontal human humidity illustrates important increase influence lake land latitudes less locations lower mean measurements moisture mountains natural North northern observed occur particles period physical plant playa precipitation pressure processes produce radiation rain rainfall range references reflected region relatively represents result Sahara salt sand scale seasonal shown shows soil solar sometimes sources speed storms substrate summer surface temperature thermal transport types United values variability variation vegetation vertical weather wind winter