Walter J. Saucier : Principles of Meteorological Analysis

This highly respected meteorological classic contains an abundance of basic information that is not only still valid but is unavailable elsewhere. Walter J. Saucier, Professor of Meteorology, North Carolina State University, prepared a book geared to intermediate-level meteorology students. Geography departments will also find it useful — as will some sophisticated amateur meteorologists. Following a review of atmospheric variables, descriptions of meteorological charts and diagrams, and a chapter on hydrostatics and static stability, the author discusses at length various types of analysis (scalar, cross-section, isobaric, isentropic, surface charts, and kinematic); considers certain aspects of broad-scale analysis and local analysis (including the tracking of small-scale weather phenomena), and provides a brief survey of analysis in the tropics. Hundreds of detailed graphs and charts enhance a clearly worded and straightforward text — the use of which requires an elementary knowledge of climatology, observations, statics and thermodynamics, physical processes, and atmospheric motions. The volume also presumes some knowledge of differential calculus — in particular partial differentials and certain rudiments of vector algebra. A list of reading references appears after each chapter; problems and exercises are included in the early sections of the book.