Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Craig F. Bohren, Bruce Albrecht
Abstract
Abstract This book presents a comprehensive treatment of thermodynamic processes operating in the atmosphere, and the core of the text focuses on water and its transformations. Four chapters lay the foundations, from energy conservation to the ideal gas law, specific heat capacities, adiabatic processes, and entropy. It presents applications of the first and second laws and describes the measurement of temperature, pressure, and moisture. An all-encompassing chapter treats phase transitions of water, including the effect of dissolved substances and size on water vapor pressure. The chapter on moist air and clouds discusses virtual temperature, isentropic ascent of saturated air, conserved parameters for moist processes, thermodynamic processes, thermodynamic diagrams, stability, and cloud formation. The final chapter covers energy, momentum, and mass transfer processes that are relevant to micrometeorology and biometeorology. Energy exchange between humans and their environments is treated with an emphasis on comfort in hot, humid conditions and cold, windy conditions (wind chill). Assumptions and approximations are carefully laid out, derivations are detailed, and equations are interpreted physically, and applied. More than 400 thought-provoking problems are included, along with about 350 references with annotations and suggestions for further reading.