This book covers the role of water in global atmospheric phenomena, focussing on the physical processes involving water molecules and water microparticles. It presents the reader with a detailed look at some of the most important types of global atmospheric phenomena involving water, such as water circulation, atmospheric electricity and the greenhouse effect. Beginning with the cycle of water evaporation and condensation, and the important roles played by the nucleation and growth processes of water microdroplets, the book discusses atmospheric electricity as a secondary phenomenon of water circulation in the atmosphere, comprising a chain of processes involving water molecules and water microdroplets. Finally, the book discusses aspects of the molecular spectroscopy of greenhouse atmospheric components, showing how water molecules and water microdroplets give the main contribution to atmospheric emission in the infrared spectrum range. Featuring numerous didactic schematicsand appendices detailing all necessary unit conversion factors, this book is useful to both active researchers and doctoral students working in the fields of atmospheric physics, climate science and molecular spectroscopy.

Looks at water's role in global atmospheric phenomena through the lens of the underlying physical processes Describes how the nucleation and growth of water microdroplets are essential for atmospheric electricity Presents a detailed spectroscopic analysis of water atmospheric components and their role in the greenhouse effect

Autorentext
Boris M. Smirnov was born in 1938 in Moscow. In 1962, he graduated from Moscow's Engineering-Physical Institute in theoretical nuclear physics and obtained his Doctor of Phys. Mat. Science in 1968. He became Professor of physics in 1970. Between 1962 and 1982, he was Head of Laboratory at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy (Moscow), then from 1982 to 1986, Head of Laboratory at the Institute of Thermophysics (Novosibirsk), and from 1986, Head of Laboratory and Head of Department, and, currently, Main Scientist at the Joint Institute for High Temperatures of the Russian Academy of Science. B.M. Smirnov was Member of the editorial board of several journals of various publishers. He was Professor at the Moscow Power Institute, Novosibirsk, State University and the Moscow Institute of Science and Technology, and is Laureate of the National Prize of Russia. His research focuses on theoretical physics, atomic, molecular, cluster, plasma, and chemical physics. He is the author of 60 books and about 500 papers.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Global properties of the Earth's atmosphere.- Water condensation processes in atmospheric air.- Processes involving atmospheric ions.- Processes of atmospheric electricity.- Greenhouse phenomenon in the Earth's atmosphere.- Conclusion.- Appendices.