Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the
Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 189.
Climate Dynamics: Why Does Climate Vary? presents the major
climate phenomena within the climate system to underscore the
potency of dynamics in giving rise to climate change and
variability. These phenomena include deep convection over the
Indo-Pacific warm pool and its planetary-scale organization: the
Madden-Julian Oscillation, the monsoons, the El Niño-Southern
Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and the low-frequency
variability of extratropical circulations. The volume also has a
chapter focusing on the discussion of the causes of the recent
melting of Arctic sea ice and a chapter devoted to the discussion
of the causes of recent changes in the frequency and intensity of
tropical cyclones. On each topic, the basic material of climate
dynamics is covered to aid the understanding of the forefront
research, making the volume accessible to a broad spectrum of
readers.
The volume highlights include
* Diabatic and nonlinear aspects of the El Niño-Southern
Oscillation
* Causes of sea ice melting in the Arctic
* Impact of global warming on tropical cyclone activity
* Origins of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation
* Causes of climate variability of Asian monsoons
The volume will be of particular interest to graduate students
and young researchers in atmospheric and oceanic sciences and
related disciplines such as geology and geography. The book will
also be a good read for those who have a more general interest in
the Earth's climate and why it varies.