Applied climatology

Abstract

The impact of climatology on a number of areas of human activity, from the continuing drought in the Sahel to the horrendous potential of a so-called 'nuclear winter', continue to receive widespread attention both within the academic sphere and beyond. This is an exciting era for the subject, much work of an applied or applicable nature is going on; this review aims to highlight some of the more important work published in 1985.Two major books were published in the field during the year. The Handbook of applied meteorology (Houghton, 1985) is a weighty and comprehensive text, produced by 54 contributors for professionals and technicians working outside the meteorological profession. It should also be read and used by those within the profession for its five sections (covering the meteorological background, measurements, major applications of meteorology, major impacts of meteorology on society, and resources for meteorological data) provide a clear state-of-the-science review, and despite its very high cost (over £98) it should be purchased by every academic library. The SCOPE Report 27 on Climate impact assessment (Kates et al., 1985) reviews a range of applied aspects of climate, including the way it

Applied climatology

“…The sensitivity of the Space Shuttle to meteorological hazards during launch and landing was mentioned in last year's review (Musk, 1986). Uccellini et al (1986) have since reported on the upper level wind conditions at the time of the Shuttle explosion and point out that both the polar front jet and the subtropical jet, each with significant vertical wind shear, were present over Florida on the morning of the launch; conditions were favourable for shear-induced turbulence at the time of the fatal explosion.…”