Introduction to the Meteorology and Climate of the Tropics

What do we mean by the tropics? The weather and the climates it produces across the tropical zone are significantly different from those experienced by the people living in higher latitudes, so forecasters across Europe and much of North America are unfamiliar with its effects. In this book, Jim Galvin demystifies the topic in this zone that is increasingly of interest to those studying weather and climate.

This book was written for weather forecasters, meteorology, environmental science and geography students as an introductory guide. It builds on the experience of the author, his professional experience in the World Area Forecast Centre at the Met Office, Exeter, using studies into the weather and climate seen within the tropical air mass conducted over many years. Its unique approach presents a practical approach to tropical weather studies, drawing on both academic and practical knowledge, covering air mass dynamics, seasonal changes, moist and dry weather, climate variability and human health in chapters and appendices that build up the overall picture, summarising our current state of knowledge.

As an overview, it covers the broad range of effects connected with climate and weather in a straightforward way and is clearly illustrated throughout.

Autorentext
Jim Galvin has had a long interest in tropical meteorology. He is a Senior Operational Meteorologist in the Met Office World Area Forecast Centre in Exeter, UK and also produces the Shipping Forecast. In 2014, he became Editor of the RMetS journal Weather. He enjoys photography and singing in a choir.

Inhalt

About the Author xi

Preface xii

Acknowledgements xiii

1 Setting the Scene 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 What do we mean by 'the tropics'? 2

1.3 The geography of the tropics 5

1.4 The tropical troposphere 5

1.5 Climate and population in the tropics 7

1.6 Question 8

2 The Energy Balance and the Dynamics of Weather in the Tropics 9

2.1 The tropical 'heat engine' 9

2.2 Absorption, reflection and apparent solar elevation 9

2.3 Emission from the surface 11

2.4 The radiation balance and the tropical zone 12

2.5 The dynamics of weather systems in the tropics 14

2.6 Questions 15

3 Winds, Temperature and Weather in the Tropical Zone 16

3.1 Winds 16

3.2 Temperature 20

3.3 The weather patterns and climates of the tropics 21

3.4 Clouds and fog in the tropics 23

3.5 Questions 28

4 The Subtropical Jet Streams 29

4.1 The formation of jet streams at the margins of the tropics 29

4.2 Weather associated with the subtropical jet stream 31

4.3 Folds and bifurcations in the flow 33

4.4 Clearair turbulence 34

4.5 Questions 36

5 Synopticscale Weather Systems 38

5.1 Introduction 38

5.2 Convection in the tropics 38

5.3 The intertropical convergence zone 42

5.4 The depth of convective clouds 47

5.5 Layer clouds and shallow convection 48

5.6 The effects of heavy rainfall in the tropics 48

5.7 Atmospheric teleconnections 49

5.8 Questions 49

6 Climate, Flora and Fauna 51

6.1 The relationship of climate to plants and animals 51

6.2 Tropical rainforest 51

6.3 Seasonal tropical forest 57

6.4 The savannas 58

6.5 Tropical deserts and scrublands 60

6.6 Mountain climates 61

6.7 Tropical oceans and coasts 65

6.8 Climatic variability 67

6.9 Questions 68

7 Dry Environments 69

7.1 Background 69

7.2 Wind and weather in the deserts 70

7.3 Fog and low cloud 78

7.4 Severe weather in the dry tropics 79

7.5 The effects of desert weather 82

7.6 Settlement and the overuse of scarce water supplies 84

7.7 Questions 85

8 Monsoons 86

8.1 Introduction 86

8.2 The summer monsoon over southern Asia 86

8.3 The summer monsoon over East Asia 89

8.4 Variations of rainfall in the Asian summer monsoon 93

8.5 The Asian winter monsoon 94

8.6 The West African summer monsoon 96

8.7 The West African winter monsoon 103

8.8 Rainfall and the monsoons in East Africa 104

8.9 The South AmericanCaribbean 'monsoons' 106

8.10 The Australian summer monsoon 107

8.11 Variable broadscale factors affecting the monsoons 111

8.12 Questions 112

9 Tropical Revolving Storms 114

9.1 Broadscale convection and the development of tropical storms 114

9.2 Tropical storm development and decline 114

9.3 The effects of tropical revolving storms 120

9.4 Storm tracks in the Pacific Ocean 124

9.5 The formation and tracks of hurricanes in the North AtlanticCaribbean 125

9.6 Tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean 126

9.7 Tropical revolving storms in the southwest Pacific 127

9.8 Variability in the development of tropical storms 128

9.9 Extratropical transition 132

9.10 Conclusion 132

9.11 Questions 132

10 Mesoscale Weather Systems 134

10.1 Introduction 134

10.2 Mesoscale convective complexes 134

10.3 Sea and landbreeze convergence zones 135

10.4 Easterly waves and squall lines 139 10.5 Mesoscale conv...