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Studies of the Middle Atmosphere
0016-7037/91/$3.00
Gmchimica n Cosmochimrca Ada Vol. 55, pp. 925-929 Copyright 0 1991 Pergamon Press plc.Printed I"U.S.A.
+ .lJO
BOOK REVIEWS
tributions involve the circulation; a study demonstrating that a 2dimensional model of the mesospheric circulation driven by parameterized gravity wave breaking reproduces many of the observed seasonal composition variations, a comparison between a 3dimensional model and data showing that the vertical resolution of operational temperature sounders is not sufficient to resolve steep vertical features present during a stratospheric warming, and a tutorial on the role of wave interactions in driving the meridional circulation (and thereby transporting chemical species). The overall picture that emerges is that there are now tools to observe the large scale structure of the middle atmosphere, and a fair understanding, at least conceptually, of processes occuring on those scales. This is coupled with suggestions that important processes are taking place on smaller vertical and horizontal scales that can not yet be observed globally, but that are necessary to understand some of the most complex transport and mixing processes. Another theme is that models are frequently necessary to interpret the observations, or extend them in useful ways. The book is an informative and balanced snapshot of our ability to observe the middle atmosphere and our understanding of it at the time of the meeting. The individual papers link theory and observation nicely, reporting recent progress and pointing out remaining uncertainties. The only section that has been seriously dated is the discussion of polar ozone, where recent expeditions have added greatly to our knowledge. A topic not treated here is the detection of ozone trends, which immediately after this meeting became a major (and successful) endeavor. A contemporary discussion would also place more emphasis on processes in the lower stratosphere, and troposphere-stratosphere exchange, which are important to questions of global change. It is unfortunate that the paper on the history of the MAP is not included, certainly it could provide lessons about the conduct of major international programs. Perhaps even more surprising, there is no mention of the meeting of the Royal Society on the same subject at the end of 1978. A brief recounting of the progress since then would certainly have been illuminating. These are minor flaws. Overall, this is an enjoyable collection of useful and well-written reviews of the state of our knowledge by recognized authorities. It will prove useful for anyone looking for a recent overview of the field and a feel for where the future prob lems are.
Studies of the Middle Atmosphere edited by J. A. Pyle, L. Thomas, and R. Wilson. Proceedings of a Royal Society Discussion Meeting held on 4 and 5 December 1986, The Royal Society, 1987, 185p., f37.00 (ISBN o-85403-334-3). THE INTERNATIONAL Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) took place
during the years 1982 through 1985. It marked an exciting period in the application of satellite data, development of ground-based techniques, extension of theoretical ideas, and discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. This volume contains 12 papers (and two abstracts) presented at a discussion meeting of the Royal Society of London in December, 1986, that was organized to review these developments. The middle atmosphere, defined here to be the region of the atmosphere between 10 and 100 km altitude, comprises the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere. This region has been the subject of intense attention in the last two decades as concerns about the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer have grown. The region also displays a wide variety of coupled chemical, dynamical, and radiative effects that are of intrinsic scientific interest. The volume proceeds from observation to theory, beginning with three papers on satellite measurements of middle atmospheric temperature and composition, and what has been learned from them. They demonstrate that temperatures can be determined within an accuracy of a few degrees and that global distributions of aerosols and several trace gases (including some in the parts per billion range) have now been measured. Distributions of the longer lived species clearly show transport from the tropical troposphere into the stratosphere. These are followed by four papers on ground-based measurements, including rocket photometric measurements of the oxygen nightglow in the mesosphere and measurements of column ozone amounts and temperatures in the Antarctic as they relate to early views of the “ozone hole.” An overview of laser radar soundings of the middle atmosphere (for temperature, aerosols, and composition) presents an emerging new capability, as does a review of the use of VHF Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radars to study dynamical features in the atmosphere that are characterized by rapid time variations and small spatial scales. MST radars are closely linked to MAP; their measurements are providing an increasingly detailed picture of gravity wave propagation and breaking, which is critical in understanding the large-scale dynamics in the mesosphere. The last five papers relate theory and laboratory measurements to the observations. Two indicate the importance of temporary reservoir species in the chemistry of ozone destruction and the use of satellite data to test photochemical theory and models. The remaining con-
Atmospheric Chemistry Division National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, Colorado 80307, USA
John C. Gille
falls, and finds. They are followed by a chapter on Antarctic meteorites, giving justice to the growing importance of the meteorite collection efforts in Antarctica. Next is a section on impacts on earth, dealing with small cavities created by small meteorites, up to large meteorite craters, followed by a very short chapter on the size distribution of meteorites (“the largest and smallest meteorites”). A chapter on the classification, mineralogy, petrology, and composition of meteorites is next, followed by a short section on the origin of meteorites and their scientific importance. Then comes a section on how to recognize, treat, and “conserve” meteorites, using drugstoretype equipment. At the end of the book is a section describing the most important meteorite collections in European museums and institutions. This short description of the contents already indicates that this book is very descriptive and historical. The first three chapters on the history and on falls and finds comprise about half of the text. The book does not contain much information on the scientific im-
Meteorite-Urmaterie aus dem interplanetaren Raum by Rolf W. Biihler. Birkhluser-Verlag, 1988, 192p., sfr 84.00 (approx. US $65.00, ISBN 3-7643-1876-7). SINCE THE publication of the book Kleine Meteoritenkunde by F.
Heide several decades ago, there has been no German language text, at the elementary or advanced level, covering the whole area of meteoritics. According to the author, this book was intended to fill this gap. 1 think it is a good sign that such a book is needed and that publishers are willing to invest in it. After all, meteorites are among the most exciting and valuable research objects in the natural sciences. That the book succeeds only partly in its task is probably due to the fact that its author is not a scientist and, therefore, had to rely on second-hand accounts and literature studies for the coverage of important research topics. The book starts out with two long chapters on the history of meteorites through the ages and a description of meteor phenomena, 925
Gmchimica n Cosmochimrca Ada Vol. 55, pp. 925-929 Copyright 0 1991 Pergamon Press plc.Printed I"U.S.A.
+ .lJO
BOOK REVIEWS
tributions involve the circulation; a study demonstrating that a 2dimensional model of the mesospheric circulation driven by parameterized gravity wave breaking reproduces many of the observed seasonal composition variations, a comparison between a 3dimensional model and data showing that the vertical resolution of operational temperature sounders is not sufficient to resolve steep vertical features present during a stratospheric warming, and a tutorial on the role of wave interactions in driving the meridional circulation (and thereby transporting chemical species). The overall picture that emerges is that there are now tools to observe the large scale structure of the middle atmosphere, and a fair understanding, at least conceptually, of processes occuring on those scales. This is coupled with suggestions that important processes are taking place on smaller vertical and horizontal scales that can not yet be observed globally, but that are necessary to understand some of the most complex transport and mixing processes. Another theme is that models are frequently necessary to interpret the observations, or extend them in useful ways. The book is an informative and balanced snapshot of our ability to observe the middle atmosphere and our understanding of it at the time of the meeting. The individual papers link theory and observation nicely, reporting recent progress and pointing out remaining uncertainties. The only section that has been seriously dated is the discussion of polar ozone, where recent expeditions have added greatly to our knowledge. A topic not treated here is the detection of ozone trends, which immediately after this meeting became a major (and successful) endeavor. A contemporary discussion would also place more emphasis on processes in the lower stratosphere, and troposphere-stratosphere exchange, which are important to questions of global change. It is unfortunate that the paper on the history of the MAP is not included, certainly it could provide lessons about the conduct of major international programs. Perhaps even more surprising, there is no mention of the meeting of the Royal Society on the same subject at the end of 1978. A brief recounting of the progress since then would certainly have been illuminating. These are minor flaws. Overall, this is an enjoyable collection of useful and well-written reviews of the state of our knowledge by recognized authorities. It will prove useful for anyone looking for a recent overview of the field and a feel for where the future prob lems are.
Studies of the Middle Atmosphere edited by J. A. Pyle, L. Thomas, and R. Wilson. Proceedings of a Royal Society Discussion Meeting held on 4 and 5 December 1986, The Royal Society, 1987, 185p., f37.00 (ISBN o-85403-334-3). THE INTERNATIONAL Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) took place
during the years 1982 through 1985. It marked an exciting period in the application of satellite data, development of ground-based techniques, extension of theoretical ideas, and discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. This volume contains 12 papers (and two abstracts) presented at a discussion meeting of the Royal Society of London in December, 1986, that was organized to review these developments. The middle atmosphere, defined here to be the region of the atmosphere between 10 and 100 km altitude, comprises the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere. This region has been the subject of intense attention in the last two decades as concerns about the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer have grown. The region also displays a wide variety of coupled chemical, dynamical, and radiative effects that are of intrinsic scientific interest. The volume proceeds from observation to theory, beginning with three papers on satellite measurements of middle atmospheric temperature and composition, and what has been learned from them. They demonstrate that temperatures can be determined within an accuracy of a few degrees and that global distributions of aerosols and several trace gases (including some in the parts per billion range) have now been measured. Distributions of the longer lived species clearly show transport from the tropical troposphere into the stratosphere. These are followed by four papers on ground-based measurements, including rocket photometric measurements of the oxygen nightglow in the mesosphere and measurements of column ozone amounts and temperatures in the Antarctic as they relate to early views of the “ozone hole.” An overview of laser radar soundings of the middle atmosphere (for temperature, aerosols, and composition) presents an emerging new capability, as does a review of the use of VHF Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radars to study dynamical features in the atmosphere that are characterized by rapid time variations and small spatial scales. MST radars are closely linked to MAP; their measurements are providing an increasingly detailed picture of gravity wave propagation and breaking, which is critical in understanding the large-scale dynamics in the mesosphere. The last five papers relate theory and laboratory measurements to the observations. Two indicate the importance of temporary reservoir species in the chemistry of ozone destruction and the use of satellite data to test photochemical theory and models. The remaining con-
Atmospheric Chemistry Division National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, Colorado 80307, USA
John C. Gille
falls, and finds. They are followed by a chapter on Antarctic meteorites, giving justice to the growing importance of the meteorite collection efforts in Antarctica. Next is a section on impacts on earth, dealing with small cavities created by small meteorites, up to large meteorite craters, followed by a very short chapter on the size distribution of meteorites (“the largest and smallest meteorites”). A chapter on the classification, mineralogy, petrology, and composition of meteorites is next, followed by a short section on the origin of meteorites and their scientific importance. Then comes a section on how to recognize, treat, and “conserve” meteorites, using drugstoretype equipment. At the end of the book is a section describing the most important meteorite collections in European museums and institutions. This short description of the contents already indicates that this book is very descriptive and historical. The first three chapters on the history and on falls and finds comprise about half of the text. The book does not contain much information on the scientific im-
Meteorite-Urmaterie aus dem interplanetaren Raum by Rolf W. Biihler. Birkhluser-Verlag, 1988, 192p., sfr 84.00 (approx. US $65.00, ISBN 3-7643-1876-7). SINCE THE publication of the book Kleine Meteoritenkunde by F.
Heide several decades ago, there has been no German language text, at the elementary or advanced level, covering the whole area of meteoritics. According to the author, this book was intended to fill this gap. 1 think it is a good sign that such a book is needed and that publishers are willing to invest in it. After all, meteorites are among the most exciting and valuable research objects in the natural sciences. That the book succeeds only partly in its task is probably due to the fact that its author is not a scientist and, therefore, had to rely on second-hand accounts and literature studies for the coverage of important research topics. The book starts out with two long chapters on the history of meteorites through the ages and a description of meteor phenomena, 925