Micro- and mesoclimatology

Abstract

In the previous survey (Smithson, 1989), comments were made about the occasional nature of the appearance of books on the theme of microand mesoclimatology. Since then, two books have been published which, whilst being explicitly concerned with meteorology, do contain much information of use to climatologists. The larger book, by Stull (1988), is intended primarily as a textbook on boundary-layer meteorology, but it also serves as a reference book on present knowledge of atmospheric turbulence and boundary-layer processes, and as a literature review for these areas. Whilst much of this book is inevitably concerned with the physical processes operating in the boundary layer, it nevertheless provides very useful information about the causative factors behind many microclimatological features. In addition, a review is provided of boundarylayer sensing devices such as radar, sodar, lidar and various instrument platforms together with comments about their relative advantages and disadvantages. If one has the financial support to purchase, maintain and operate such equipment then this book will give guidance on which system would be most appropriate for a particular problem. The other book (Hsu, 1988) is specifically concerned with coastal meteorology, though the first four chapters are devoted to atmospheric physics which would be relevant for any scale. Physical processes in the boundary layer are discussed in some detail before the core is reached on air-sea-land . interaction. The final chapter on engineering meteorology reflects the origin of the book which was based on a course for students in science and engineering in the Department of Marine Sciences at Louisiana State University. As a result, Atkinson's much broader review of mesoscale circulation systems (Atkinson, 1981) still provides the best climatological reference in this area.Other publications will be discussed within the same subject framework as in the previous survey (Smithson, 1989). I Instrumentation and techniquesInstrumentation of the meso-and microscales can range from satellite sensing down to eddy correlation methods used almost in contact with the ground surface.

Two decades of urban climate research: a review of turbulence, exchanges of energy and water, and the urban heat island

“…Linkages among scales are explicit, for example, in parameterizations of the storage heat flux using the objective hysteresis model (OHM) of , which aggregates the heat storage responses Table I. Reviews, bibliographies and summaries on urban climatology published during the review period Reference Topic Oke (1979b) Review of urban climatology, 1973-76 Changnon (1980) The La Porte precipitation anomaly Oke (1980) Bibliography of urban climate literature, 1977literature, -80 Landsberg (1981a Multiple topics in urban climatology Changnon (1981) A review and summary of the METROMEX project Landsburg (1981b) Multiple topics in urban climatology Oke (1982) Urban energy balance Douglas (1983) Urban physical environment in general with one chapter on urban climate Lockerby (1983) Bibliography on the climate of cities Lee (1984) Multiple topics in urban climatology Oke (1986) Urban climatology with special emphasis on tropical areas Oke (1988b) Urban energy balance Smithson (1989) Progress report (includes 'urban climates') Oke (1989) Trees in cities Smithson (1990a) Progress report (includes 'urban climates') Smithson (1990b) Progress report (includes 'urban climates') Yoshino (1990-91) Emphasis on Japanese urban climate work Oke et al (1990-91) TRUCE (Tropical Urban Climate Experiment) Brazel et al (1991) Includes section on urban climatology Changnon (1992) Inadvertent climate change in urban areas and lessons for global climate work Steyn (1992) Integrated studies of air pollution meteorology Cermak et al (1995) Wind climates in cities Goldreich (1995) Review of Israeli urban climate work Arnfield (1998a) Review of urban climate work published in 1996 Arnfield (1998b) Review of urban climate work published in 1997 Sturman (1998) Urban climate processes, mitigation of urban climate effects and implications for urban design Lowry (1998) Urban effects on precipitation amount including a critique of experimental design Arnfield (2000a) Review of...…”