Weather and Climate

Part 1 The atmosphere: its energy; the air in motion; moisture, temperature and air stability; weather conditions; climatic influences on plants and soils. Part 2 Weather systems: the lower air; upper air affecting surface weather; case study -weather systems on the move - Australia's "Black Wednesday"; monsoon systems; case study - cyclones - transfers of energy. Part 3 A pattern of climates: defining climatic regions; case study - China - climatic contrasts - a week in March; low latitude climates; case study - the Andes - climatic diversity; middle latitude climates; high latitude climates; beyond climatic classifications - local variations. Part 4 Why climates change - causes and effects: cycles of climatic change; case study - evidence of climatic change; long-term cycles of change; short-term cycles of change; atmospheric warming; complex effects of global warming; case study - the Sahel; atmospheric contamination; urban growth; urban-rural climatic contrasts. Part 5 Changing climate - debatable issues: skills - presenting relevant points; can present weather conditions and trends indicate climatic change?; the rate of change - the reliability of statistical forecasts?; energy inputs with cyclic variations - their influence?; to what extent can natural processes affect the climate?; human activities can affect the climate - but on what scale?; positive consequences of climatic change?; minimizing climatic change - the need for action?; minimizing climatic change - can current projects prove effective?; skill - being precise. Appendix - climatic classification - Trewartha's modification of the Koppen system. (Part contents).