ALBERT

Note: Contents: Preface. - List of Principal Symbols. - Chapter 1. The Middle Atmosphere and Its Evolution. - 1.1 Introduction. - 1.2 Evolution of the Earth's atmosphere. - 1.3 Possible perturbations. - References. - Chapter 2. Chemical Concepts in the Atmosphere. - 2.1 Introduction. - 2.2 Thermodynamic considerations. - 2.3 Elementary chemical kinetics. - 2.3.1 Collision theory of bimolecular reactions. - 2.3.2 Unimolecular reactions. - 2.3.3 Termolecular reactions. - 2.4 Term symbols and their use. - 2.4.1 General. - 2.4.2 Selection rules for electronic radiative processes. - 2.5 Photolysis processes. - 2.6 Excited species in the middle atmosphere. - References and bibliography. - Chapter 3. Structure and Dynamics. - 3.1 Introduction. - 3.2 Vertical structure and some observed dynamical characteristics. - 3.3 Fundamental description of atmospheric dynamics. - 3.3.1 The primitive equations. - 3.3.2 The quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation. - 3.4 Effects of dynamics on chemical species. - 3.5 General circulation models. - 3.6 Dynamics of the stratosphere in two dimensions: a conceptual view. - 3.6.1 Zonal means and eddies. - 3.6.2 Descriptions of the mean meridional stratospheric circulation. - 3.7 The importance of wave transience and dissipation. - 3.8 One dimensional representations of the atmosphere. - References. - Chapter 4. Radiation. - 4.1 Introduction. - 4.2 Solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere. - 4.2.1 The sun as a black body. - 4.2.2 The observed solar spectrum. - 4.3 The attenuation of solar radiation in the atmosphere. - 4.3.1 Absorption. - 4.3.2 Scattering by molecules and aerosol particles. - 4.4 Radiative transfer. - 4.4.1 General equations. - 4.4.2 Solution of the equation of radiative transfer for wavelengths less than 4 µm : Multiple scattering. - 4.4.3 Solution of the radiative transfer equation at wavelengths longer than 4 µm : Absorption and emission of infrared radiation. - 4.5 The thermal effects of radiation. - 4.5.1 Heating due to absorption of radiation. - 4.5.2 Cooling by radiative emission. - 4.6 Photochemical effects of radiation. - 4.6.1 General. - 4.6.2 Absorption cross sections of the principal atmospheric molecules 4.6.3 Numerical calculation of photodissociation coefficients. - References. - Chapter 5. Composition and Chemistry. - 5.1 General. - 5.2 Oxygen compounds. - 5.2.1 Pure oxygen chemistry. - 5.2.2 The odd oxygen family and some observations. - 5.3 Carbon compounds. - 5.3.1 Methane. - 5.3.2 Methane oxidation chemistry. - 5.3.3 Some end products of methane oxidation: carbon monoxide and dioxide. - 5.4 Hydrogen compounds. - 5.4.1 General. - 5.4.2 Odd hydrogen chemistry. - 5.4.3 The odd hydrogen family and some observations. - 5.5 Nitrogen compounds. - 5.5.1 Sources of stratospheric nitrogen oxides. - 5.5.2 Chemistry of odd nitrogen and nitric acid in the stratosphere. - 5.5.3 The odd nitrogen family: lifetimes and observations. - 5.5.4 Chemistry of odd nitrogen in the lower thermosphere and mesosphere. - 5.5.5 The odd nitrogen family in the lower thermosphere and mesophere. - 5.6 Chlorine compounds. - 5.6.1 General. - 5.6.2 Chlorine chemistry. - 5.6.3 The odd chlorine family: lifetimes and observations. - 5.7 Other halogens. - 5.8 Sulfur compounds and formation ofaerosols. - 5.9 Generalized ozone balance. - References. - Chapter 6. The Ions. - 6.1 Introduction. - 6.2 Formation of ions in the middle atmosphere. - 6.2.1 Effect of solar radiation. - 6.2.2 The effect of energetic particles. - 6.2.3 Comparison of different ionization processes. - 6.3 Positive ion chemistry. - 6.3.1 Positive ions in the E region. - 6.3.2 Positive ions in the D region. - 6.3.3 Positive ions in the stratosphere. - 6.4 Negative ion chemistry. - 6.4.1 Negative ions in the D region. - 6.4.2 Negative ions in the stratosphere. - 6.5 Effect of ionic processes on neutral constituents. - 6.6 Radio waves in the lower ionosphere. - References. - Chapter 7. Possible Perturbations and Atmospheric Responses. - 7.1 Introduction. - 7.2 The importance of coupling in the study of perturbations. - 7.3 The effect of changes in the solar irradiance. - 7.4 Particle precipitation. - 7.5 Volcanic emissions. - 7.6 Anthropogenic emissions. - 7.6.1 Carbon dioxide. - 7.6.2 Methane. - 7.6.3 Nitrous oxide. - 7.6.4 Aircraft in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. - 7.6.5 The chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's). - 7.6.6 Simultaneous perturbations. - References. - Appendix A. Numerical values of physical constants and other data. - Appendix B. Conversion factors. - Appendix C. Reaction rate constants. - Appendix D. Estimated mixing ratio profiles. - Index.