ALBERT

Note: Table of contents 1. Introduction: Perceptions of weather and climate 1.1 Meteorology and/or climatology? 1.2 Perceptions of reality: schools of thought 1.3 Inadequacies in schools of thought, and associated problems 1.4 The approach ofthis book Part I GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE TROPOSPHERE 2. Radiation 2.1 Processes of radiation 2.2 The greenhouse effect 2.3 The shape and motions of the Earth 2.4 The geographical factor 2.5 Conclusion 3. Circulation in the lower layers of the troposphere 3.1 Circulation in high and mid-latitudes: MPHs Perception of circulation in high and mid-latitudes The existence of mobile anticyclones Mobile Polar Highs (MPHs) The polar thermal deficit The birth of MPHs MPH trajectories The MPH-associated wind field 3.2 Anticyclonic agglutinations (AAs) A look at the so-called "subtropical" high-pressure areas Meridional transport by MPHs and anticyclonic agglutination (AA) Oceanic and continental anticyclonic agglutinations 3.3 Tropical circulation A look at tropical circulation Pressure and wind fields over the tropics The trade wind Trade winds The monsoon Monsoons 4. General circulation 4.1 General circulation: evolution of ideas 4.2 Areas of circulation in the lower layers 4.3 General circulation in the troposphere The mean tropospheric picture Seasonal variation in circulation Aerological stratification 4.4 Zonal "Walker" circulation: myth or reality? 4.5 General circulation: conclusion Part II DYNAMICS OF THE WEATHER: PERTURBATIONS 5. Pluviogenesis 5.1 Precipitation potential 5.2 Origin of an updraft The thermal factor The dynamical factor 5.3 Structuralconditions 6. Dynamics of weather in polar and temperate regions: MPHs 6.1 Perception of the "perturbed field" in high and mid-latitudes 6.2 The MPH: pressure field and wind field 6.3 Weather associated with an MPH 6.4 MPHs and the ''polar front" 6.5 Interactions between MPHs 6.6 Dynamics of weather in North America 6.7 Dynamics of weather in France MPHs and relief Winter dynamics Summer dynamics 6.8 Dynamics of weather in temperate and polar regions: conclusion 7. MPHs at tropical margins 7.1 The temperate-tropical boundary 7.2 Mechanisms 7.3 North and Central America 7.4 South America 7.5 Nmthern Africa, Arabia and India 7.6 Southern Africa 7.7 Eastern Asia 7.8 Australia 7.9 Conclusion 8. Pulses in trades and monsoons 8 1 Trade winds and "easterly waves" 8.2 Vertical structure of the trades 8.3 Pulses in the trades Maritime trades The continental trade wind 8.4 Pulses in the monsoon 9. The meteorological equator 9.1 The meteorological equator: the evolution of a concept 9.2 The inclined meteorological equator (IME) 9.3 IME activity: squall line.s (SL) 9.4 The vertical meteorological equator (VME) 9.5 The meteorological equator over continents: IME and VME 10. Tropical cyclones 10.1 Cyclone structure and associated weather 10.2 Conditions for cyclogenesis 10.3 The geography of tropical cyclones Part III DYNAMICS OF CLIMATE: CLIMATIC EVOLUTION The global climatic system 11. Causes of climatic variations 11.1 Variations in solar activity The sunspot cycle Solar activity and climate 11.2 Orbital parameters of radiation Variation of the Earth-Sun distance, or eccentricity of the Earth's orbit Variation of the angle of inclination of the Earth's polar axis Variation of the direction of the polar axis, or precession of the equinoxes Orbital parameters and climatic evolution 11.3 Volcanism and climate Volcanic emissions and ejecta (silicates and sulphates) Optical radiative and thermal effects 11.4 The anthropic greenhouse effect The anthropic greenhouse effect: predictions from models Predictions and observations Recent climatic change does not conform to the "greenhouse effect"scenario Conclusion on the causes of climatic change 12. Palaeoclimatic variations and modes of general circulation 12.1 A Palaeoenvironments in Africa Present-day dynamics of climate in Africa The palaeoenvironment of Africa at the time of the LGM (18- 15 kyr BP) The palaeoenvironment of Africa at the time of the HCO (9-6 kyr BP) Palaeometeorological interpretation 12.2 Variations in insolation and in modes of general circulation Variations in insolation at high latitudes Rapid general circulation Slow general circulation Glaciation and deglaciation Palaeocirculations over Africa Circulation at the time of the Last Glacial Maximum Circulation at the time of the Holocene Climatic Optimum Conclusion 13. Recent climatic evolution Recent climatic evolution in France 13.1 Dynamics of the great Sahel drought Sahelian pluviogenesis Causes of the great drought The southward movement of pluviogenetic structures 13.2 Climatic evolution in the North Atlantic/Europe/Mediterranean space Recent regional climatic evolutions Dynamics of weather and climate in the North Atlantic space Conclusion Polar and Alpine glaciers 13. 3 Dynamics of the Pacific space - El Niño Aerological dynamics of the North Pacific space The "El Niño phenomenon" The components of El Niño in the eastern Pacific The origin of torrential rains in northern Peru The components of El Niño in the tropical Pacific The increasing frequency of the El Niño phenomenon 13.4 The expansion of the northern meteorological hemisphere Climatic consequences in the tropics Lack of rainfall at norhern tropical margins The inverse relationship between northern and southern tropical rainfall Greatly increased cyclonic activity south of the equator "Global warning"? Climatic perspectives 14. General conclusion Bibliography Index