Global Climate System

Climatology has expanded considerably in the past two decades, giving researchers many new ways to account for why the world's climates look the way they do. This 2006 textbook surveys the earth's climate systems against that background, drawing on far larger volumes of data, better methods of retrieving it, and the growing use of satellites and computers.

The book looks at regional climate anomalies, advances in the study of teleconnections (linked climate patterns across distant regions), and unusual recent sequences of climate change. It also considers how human activity affects the climate system. Although the physical climate makes up most of the text, the authors also address the social and economic dimensions of the global climate system.

The material grows out of the authors' long experience teaching climatology and atmospheric science. Each chapter includes an essay written by a specialist in the chosen topic, intended to deepen understanding of that subject. Readers will also find an extensive bibliography and lists of websites for further study.

The book is aimed at advanced students of climatology and atmospheric science.