An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics

by Anastasios A. Tsonis

• ISBN13: 9780521796767
• ISBN10: 0521796768
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-06
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A Short Course in Atmospheric Thermodynamics is a self-contained, concise but rigorous book introducing the reader to the basics of the subject. Introductory chapters provide basic definitions and some useful mathematical and physical notes. Following a treatment of the fundamental laws of classical thermodynamics, the book describes topics including the properties of moist air and atmospheric stability. Thermodynamic diagrams are used as tools in the forecasting of storm development. In the final chapter the author introduces the problem of weather prediction and the relevance of thermodynamics. Anastasios Tsonis has taught atmospheric thermodynamics at undergraduate level for 15 years and is a highly respected researcher in the field. This book provides an ideal text for short courses taken as part of an atmospheric science, meteorology, physics or natural science program.

Author Biography

Anastasios Tsonis has taught atmospheric thermodynamics at undergraduate level for 15 years and is a highly respected researcher in the field. This book provides an ideal text for short courses taken as part of an atmospheric science, meteorology, physics or natural science program

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Basic definitions	1	(4)
Some useful mathematical and physical topics	5	(6)
Exact differentials	5	(2)
Kinetic theory of heat	7	(4)
Early experiments and laws	11	(12)
The first law of Gay-Lussac	11	(1)
The second law of Gay-Lussac	12	(1)
Absolute temperature	13	(1)
Another form of the Gay-Lussac laws	13	(1)
Boyle's law	14	(1)
Avogadro's hypothesis	14	(1)
The ideal gas law	15	(1)
A little discussion on the ideal gas law	16	(1)
Mixture of gases - Dalton's law	17	(6)
Examples	19	(3)
Problems	22	(1)
The first law of thermodynamics	23	(26)
Work	23	(2)
Definition of energy	25	(2)
Equivalence between heat and work done	27	(1)
Thermal capacities	28	(2)
More on the relation between U and T (Joule's law)	30	(3)
Consequences of the first law	33	(16)
Examples	40	(6)
Problems	46	(3)
The second law of thermodynamics	49	(24)
The Carnot cycle	49	(3)
Lessons learned from the Carnot cycle	52	(4)
More on entropy	56	(2)
Special forms of the second law	58	(2)
Combining the first and second laws	60	(1)
Some consequences of the second law	61	(12)
Examples	67	(3)
Problems	70	(3)
Water and its transformations	73	(20)
Thermodynamic properties of water	74	(3)
Equilibrium phase transformations - latent heat	77	(2)
The Clausius-Clapeyron (C-C) equation	79	(2)
Approximations and consequences of the C-C equation	81	(12)
Examples	86	(3)
Problems	89	(4)
Moist air	93	(36)
Measures and description of moist air	93	(4)
Humidity variables	93	(2)
Mean molecular weight of moist air and other quantities	95	(2)
Processes in the atmosphere	97	(19)
Isobaric cooling - dew and frost temperatures	97	(3)
Adiabatic isobaric processes - wet-bulb temperatures	100	(3)
Adiabatic expansion (or compression) of unsaturated moist air	103	(1)
Reaching saturation by adiabatic ascent	104	(5)
Saturated ascent	109	(4)
A few more temperatures	113	(1)
Saturated adiabatic lapse rate	114	(2)
Other processes of interest	116	(13)
Adiabatic isobaric mixing	116	(2)
Vertical mixing	118	(2)
Examples	120	(5)
Problems	125	(4)
Vertical stability in the atmosphere	129	(14)
The equation of motion for a parcel	129	(2)
Stability analysis and conditions	131	(5)
Other factors affecting stability	136	(7)
Examples	136	(3)
Problems	139	(4)
Thermodynamic diagrams	143	(16)
Conditions for area-equivalent transformations	143	(2)
Examples of thermodynamic diagrams	145	(6)
The tephigram	145	(2)
The emagram	147	(1)
The skew emagram (skew (T -ln p) diagram)	148	(3)
Graphical representation of thermodynamic variables in a diagram	151	(8)
Using diagrams in forecasting	152	(2)
Examples	154	(2)
Problems	156	(3)
Beyond this book	159	(4)
Basic predictive equations in the atmosphere	159	(2)
Moisture	161	(2)
References	163	(2)
Appendix	165	(4)
Table A1	165	(1)
Table A2	166	(1)
Table A3	167	(1)
The skew (T-ln p) diagram	168	(1)
Index	169