The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series) [Paperback]

J. R. Garratt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521467454 | ISBN-13: 978-0521467452 | Publication Date: May 27, 1994

A comprehensive and lucid account of the physics and dynamics of the lowest one to two kilometers of the Earth's atmosphere in direct contact with the Earth's surface, known as the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). Dr. Garratt emphasizes the application of the ABL problems to numerical modeling of the climate, which makes this book unique among recent texts on the subject. He begins with a brief introduction to the ABL before leading to the development of mean and turbulence equations and the many scaling laws and theories that are the cornerstone of any serious ABL treatment. Modeling of the ABL is crucially dependent for its realism on the surface boundary conditions, so chapters four and five deal with aerodynamic and energy considerations, with attention given to both dry and wet land surfaces and the sea. The author next treats the structure of the clear-sky, thermally stratified ABL, including the convective and stable cases over homogeneous land, the marine ABL, and the internal boundary layer at the coastline. Chapter seven then extends this discussion to the cloudy ABL. This is particularly relevant to current research because the extensive stratocumulus regions over the subtropical oceans and stratus regions over the Arctic have been identified as key players in the climate system. In the final chapters, Dr. Garratt summarizes the book's material by discussing appropriate ABL and surface parameterization schemes in general circulation models of the atmosphere that are being used for climate stimulation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an excellent review of the current state of affairs on boundary-layer meteorology research....will be an asset to the bookshelf of any scientist active in boundary-layer meteorology or in the related fields." F.T.M. Nieuwstadt, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

"...a valuable addition to the recent literature in this area." Leo J. Donner, EOS

"The presentation of the covered topics is clear and easy to follow, with numerous plots and diagrams providing good illustrations to the text....the book is a valuable and recommendable reference to all interested in the boundary layer problems, particularly in the numerical modeling." Szymon P. Malinowski, Pageoph

Book Description

A comprehensive account of the physics and dynamics of the lowest one to two kilometers of the Earth's atmosphere in direct contact with the Earth's surface, known as the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), uniquely emphasizes the application of the ABL problems to numerical modeling of the climate.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 27, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521467454
• ISBN-13: 978-0521467452
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #984,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the serious student, May 23, 2002

By 

The Pie Faced Prince (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series) (Paperback)

Garratt's book is an elegant and concise mathematical introduction to the atmospheric boundary layer. If you are new to the subject this is one of the books you want to start with. The other is Stull's comprehensive "Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology". At $40, Garratt's book is by far the better bargain, but if you are serious about learning the subject both books complement each other nicely.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed, November 14, 2002

By 

Grad student (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series) (Paperback)

I was forced to buy this book as a text for my boundary layer meteorology course. At first I thought it was great because it was probably one of the only texts on teh market that was less than $100. After reading it through and studying it in considerable depth I can honestly say it was one of the worst texts I have ever seen. Proper derivations were lacking and the explanation of Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory, a central topic in the study of boundary layer dynamics, was very poor. Granted that the text is aimed at a graduate level course, it is expected to be more complex, but the oversight of not including any well though-out physical descriptions of boundary layer processes makes this book a near failure.

As a text, it is no good. There are no problems to do and again, if you're searching for good explanations don't look here. I suppose the use I could see for this text is as a reference for those who have a strong background in the field and don't require proper derivations or any description. For me, the floor in my office is uneven and this book has served marvelously in propping up my desk's leg. In consulting with others about this text, many have shared my opinion! You make your own choice, but I suggest you take the book out of the library first and see what it has to offer you.

One point I should mention. I would not feel right ending my comments without having said at least one good thing. So the best i can do is this: the section on modelling PBL growth is OK.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise and efficient, July 25, 2005

By 

Michel Mesquita "Brazilian" (Bergen - Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series) (Paperback)

This is an engrossing book by Garratt, it is concise and efficient. The first chapters give the reader a captivating introductory overview of what the boundary layer is about. It is a great book that could be used by both graduate and undergraduate students.