Weather and climate in middle and high latitudes - Atmosphere, Weather and Climate

Geoscience Reference

In-Depth Information

Elsevier, Amsterdam, 420pp. [Thorough account of the

circulation systems and climatic processes; climates of

Canada, the USA and Mexico are treated individually;

numerous statistical data tables.]

Chagnon, S. A. (ed.) (1996) The Great Flood of 1993 ,

Westview Press, Boulder, CO, 321pp. [Account of the

Mississippi floods of 1993.]

Chandler, T. J. and Gregory, S. (eds) (1976) The Climate

of the British Isles , Longman, London, 390pp. [Detailed

treatment by element as well as synoptic climatology,

climate change, coastal, upland and urban climates;

many tables and references.]

Evenari, M., Shanan, L. and Tadmor, N. (1971) The Negev ,

Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 345pp.

[Climate and environment of the Negev desert.]

Flohn, H. (1954) Witterung und Klima in Mitteleuropa ,

Zurich, 218pp. [Synoptic climatological approach to

European climatic conditions.]

Gentilli, J. (ed.) (1971) Climates of Australia and New

Zealand, World Survey of Climatology 13, Elsevier,

Amsterdam, 405pp. [Standard climatology including

airmasses and synoptic systems.]

Goudie, A. and Wilkinson, J. (1977) The Warm Desert

Environment , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,

88pp.

Green, C. R. and Sellers, W. D. (1964) Arizona Climate ,

University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 503pp. [Details

on the climatic variability in the State of Arizona.]

Hare, F. K. and Thomas, M. K. (1979) Climate Canada

(2nd edn), Wiley, Canada, 230pp.

Hulme, M. and Barrow, E. (eds) (1997) Climates of the

British Isles. Present, Past and Future , Routledge,

London, 454pp. [Treats overall modern climatic con-

ditions in terms of synoptic climatology, based on H.H.

Lamb; reconstruction of historical conditions and future

projections; many useful data tables.]

Linacre, W. and Hobbs, J. (1977) The Australian Climatic

Environment , Wiley, Brisbane, 354pp. [Much broader

than its title; presents weather and climate from a

southern hemisphere perspective, including chapters

on the climates of the southern hemisphere as well as

of Australia; a chapter on climatic change and four

chapters on applied climatology.]

Lydolph, P. E. (1977) Climates of the Soviet Union,

World Survey of Climatology 7, Elsevier, Amsterdam,

435pp. [The most comprehensive survey of climate for

this region in English; numerous tables of climate

statistics.]

Manley, G. (1952) Climate and the British Scene , Collins,

London, 314pp. [Classic description of British climate

and its human context.]

Schwerdtfeger, W. (1984) Weather and Climate of the

Antarctic , Elsevier, Amsterdam, 261pp. [A specialized

surrounded by land areas and a high Antarctic ice

plateau surrounded by the Southern Ocean and thin

seasonal sea ice. The Arctic is affected by mid-latitude

cyclones from the North Atlantic and in summer from

northern Asia. A surface inversion dominates Arctic

conditions in winter and year-round over Antarctica.

In summer, stratiform cloud blankets the Arctic and

temperatures are near 0°C. Subzero temperatures

persist year-round on the Antarctic continent and kata-

batic winds dominate the surface climate. Precipitation

amounts are low, except in a few coastal areas, in both

polar regions.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Compare the climatic conditions in maritime and

continental locations in the major continents, and in

your own region of the world, using available station

data from reference works or the web.

Consider how major topographic barriers in the

Americas, western Europe, New Zealand and so on,

modify the patterns of temperature and precipitation

in those regions.

Examine the seasonal distribution of precipitation in

different parts of the Mediterranean Basin and con-

sider the reasons for departures from the classical

view of a wet winter/dry summer regime.

Examine the spatial extent of 'Mediterranean-type'

climates in other continents and the reasons for these

conditions.

Compare the climatic characteristics and controls of

the two polar regions.

What are the primary causes of the world's major

deserts?