Physics and Dynamics of Clouds and Precipitation

[Book Description]

This key new textbook provides a state-of-the-art view of the physics of cloud and precipitation formation, covering the most important topics in the field: the microphysics, thermodynamics and cloud-scale dynamics. Highlights include: the condensation process explained with new insights from chemical physics studies; the impact of the particle curvature (the Kelvin equation) and solute effect (the Kohler equation); homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation from recent molecular dynamic simulations; and the hydrodynamics of falling hydrometeors and their impact on collision growth. 3D cloud-model simulations demonstrate the dynamics and microphysics of deep convective clouds and cirrus formation, and each chapter contains problems enabling students to review and implement their new learning. Packed with detailed mathematical derivations and cutting-edge stereographic illustrations, this is an ideal text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses, and also serves as a reference for academic researchers and professionals working in atmospheric science, meteorology, climatology, remote sensing and environmental science.

[Table of Contents]

Preface                                            ix
    1 Observation of clouds                        1  (26)
    2 The shape and size of cloud and              27 (41)
    precipitation particles
    3 Molecular structures of water substance      68 (18)
    4 Bulk thermodynamic equilibrium among         86 (21)
    water vapor, liquid water, and ice
    5 Surface thermodynamics of water substance    107(27)
    6 Aerosol in the atmosphere                    134(22)
    7 Nucleation                                   156(26)
    8 Hydrodynamics of cloud and precipitation     182(46)
    particles
    9 Diffusion growth and evaporation of cloud    228(24)
    and precipitation particles
    10 Collision, coalescence, breakup, and        252(36)
    melting
    11 Cloud drop population dynamics in the       288(17)
    warm rain process
    12 Fundamental cloud dynamics                  305(22)
    13 Numerical cloud models                      327(36)
    14 Cloud electricity                           363(33)
    15 Clouds-environment interaction              396(33)
References                                         429(16)
Index                                              445