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At present climate change is a controversial topic and A Change in the Weather deals with climate change and its consequences. It examines the major controversies and locates them in the broader context of the climatic changes that have taken place in the past. Beginning with a definition of climate change, this volume provides a general account of the way the atmosphere and oceans work to produce climates and an outline of the astronomical and other influences that effect climatic changes. It then describes different types of climate that have prevailed in the past and explains the way past climates are studied. An important topic covered is the greenhouse effect and the history of this idea, which leads into an overview of the present concern over global warming induced by an enhanced greenhouse effect. Filled with interesting facts on climate and climate change, A Change in the Weather provides a comprehensive survey of the issues surrounding this important topic.
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Dangerous Weather A Change in the Weather Dangerous Weather A Change in the Weather Michael Allaby ILLUSTRATIONS by Richard Garratt A Change in the Weather Copyright © 2004 by Michael Allaby All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Allaby, Michael. A change in the weather / Michael Allaby; illustrations by Richard Garratt. p. cm.—(Dangerous weather) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-4790-1 (acid-free paper) 1. Climatic changes. 2. Meteorology. 3. Paleoclimatology. I. Title. QC981.8.C5A435 2004 551.6—dc21 2003009535 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text design by Erika K. Arroyo Cover design by Nora Wertz Illustrations by Richard Garratt Printed in the United States of America VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 This book is printed on acid-free paper. 3 2 1 For Ailsa —M.A. To my late wife, Jen, who gave me inspiration and support for almost 30 years —R.G. Contents Preface Introduction HOW THE ATMOSPHERE PRODUCES OUR WEATHER Composition and structure of the atmosphere Mars was not always a cold desert Atmospheres of Earth, Venus, and Mars How Earth acquired its three atmospheres How oxygen accumulated Layers of the atmosphere Troposphere and tropopause Stratosphere and stratopause Mesosphere and mesopause Thermosphere, exosphere, and ionosphere GENERAL CIRCULATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE Seasons and Tropics Why Earth is not like the Moon Trade winds and Hadley cells George Hadley and Hadley cells Polar and Ferrel cells The Coriolis effect xv xvii 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 7 7 8 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 TRANSPORT OF HEAT BY THE OCEANS Ocean currents El Niño Thermohaline circulation and North Atlantic Deep Water The Great Conveyor Ocean gyres and boundary currents Why the Arctic is warmer than the Antarctic 18 18 19 20 23 24 25 EVAPORATION AND CONDENSATION AND HOW THEY PRODUCE OUR WEATHER 28 The water molecule and the hydrogen bond Breaking the bond: evaporation Specific heat capacity Latent heat and adiabatic cooling and warming Latent heat and dew point Adiabatic cooling and warming