This book counteracts the current fashion for theories of OC chaosOCO and unpredictability by describing a theory that underpins the surprising accuracy of current deterministic weather forecasts, and it suggests that further improvements are possible. The book does this by making a unique link between an exciting new branch of mathematics called OC optimal transportationOCO and existing classical theories of the large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulation. It is then possible to solve a set of simple equations proposed many years ago by Hoskins which are asymptotically valid on large scales, and use them to derive quantitative predictions about many large-scale atmospheric and oceanic phenomena. A particular feature is that the simple equations used have highly predictable solutions, thus suggesting that the limits of deterministic predictability of the weather may not yet have been reached. It is also possible to make rigorous statements about the large-scale behaviour of the atmosphere and ocean by proving results using these simple equations and applying them to the real system allowing for the errors in the approximation. There are a number of other titles in this field, but they do not treat this large-scale regime. Contents: The Governing Equations and Asymptotic Approximations to Them; Solution of the Semi-Geostrophic Equations in Plane Geometry; Solution of the Semi-Geostrophic Equations in More General Cases; Properties of Semi-Geostrophic Solutions; Application of Semi-Geostrophic Theory to the Predictability of atmospheric Flows. Readership: Researchers and graduate students in atmosphere/ocean dynamics with some mathematical background."

The high predictability of the atmosphere and ocean depends on the existence of a 'slow manifold', which contains the solutions of equations describing only large-scale motions. This unique compendium succinctly describes major recent advances in showing that these equations can be solved independently.The book is a new edition of a similar book published 15 years ago. The explanation of the mathematical techniques has been expanded. Many new theoretical results are included. Illustrations derived from production atmosphere and ocean models are also incorporated to cover the full range between rigorous mathematics and state-of-the-art numerical modelling.The author is a dynamical meteorologist with long experience and international standing. The mathematical results in the book were proved by many of the world's leading analysts. The results come from the Met Office Unified Model, which is one of the world's leading weather and climate models.Related Link(s)

This book counteracts the current fashion for theories of “chaos” and unpredictability by describing a theory that underpins the surprising accuracy of current deterministic weather forecasts, and it suggests that further improvements are possible. The book does this by making a unique link between an exciting new branch of mathematics called “optimal transportation” and existing classical theories of the large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulation. It is then possible to solve a set of simple equations proposed many years ago by Hoskins which are asymptotically valid on large scales, and use them to derive quantitative predictions about many large-scale atmospheric and oceanic phenomena. A particular feature is that the simple equations used have highly predictable solutions, thus suggesting that the limits of deterministic predictability of the weather may not yet have been reached. It is also possible to make rigorous statements about the large-scale behaviour of the atmosphere and ocean by proving results using these simple equations and applying them to the real system allowing for the errors in the approximation. There are a number of other titles in this field, but they do not treat this large-scale regime.

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Mounting evidence that human activities are substantially modifying the Earth's climate brings a new imperative to the study of the ocean's large-scale circulation. This textbook provides a concise but comprehensive introduction to the theory of large-scale ocean circulation, as it is currently understood and established. Students and instructors will benefit from the carefully chosen chapter-by-chapter exercises. This advanced textbook is invaluable for graduate students and researchers in the fields of oceanic, atmospheric and climate sciences, and other geophysical scientists, as well as physicists and mathematicians with a quantitative interest in the planetary fluid environment.

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