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The upper atmosphere and solar- terrestrial relations
Planet. Space Sci.. Vol. 28. pp. 655.
Pergamon Pnss
Ltd., 1980. Printed in Northern Ireland
BOOK
REVIEW
J. K. HARGREAVJZS: The Upper Atmosphere and SolarTerrestrial Relations, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, London. XV+300. U.K. f15.00 (hardback), f7.00 (paperback). Over the past decade numerous books have appeared on this subject, each re-presenting the basic story and embracing new material as the subject advanced. Hargreaves’ book is another one in this line but is has much to commend it besides; it is neither an advanced dissertation nor trivially descriptive and it judiciously combines breadth of coverage with depth of treatment. The book is based on a university lecture course given by the author. This field test of the material has, I am sure, contributed much to determining the relevance and weighting of the various sections and has added a continuity and coherence which all students expect and which many will appreciate. I found the book very readable indeed and was able, even without recourse to the ample cross references, to appreciate the roundness of many of the topics taken in isolation. The text is liberally sprinkled with well chosen graphics. An elementary knowledge of classical physics is assumed. Mathematics is, of course, an essential vehicle for any non-trivial physical presentation but the calculus and minimal vector analysis used here will be no problem to the serious student.
655
The first five of the twelve chapters in the book deal with physical fundamentals, observational techniques and characteristics of the upper atmosphere in general and ionosphere in particular. This material, which is crucial to an understanding of the subject, is comprehensively presented in only one third of the text. The remainder of the book is attractively topical. Chapter 6 deals with winds, currents, irregularities and wavesareas currently being actively researched. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 present a lucid and thorough treatment of the magnetosphere-a region which will continue to attract much of the upper atmosphere research effort in the years ahead; these chapters appropriately comprise one third of the text. Chapter 10 discusses solar flares and solar protons; chapter 11, storms and other disturbance phenomena and chapter 12 considers some practical aspects of upper atmosphere studies. For the student actively involved in research the book is no substitute for current published papers-the most recent listed reference is 1976-but even he or she will find time spent in its well cultivated topics refreshing and rewarding. Altogether an excellent text.
R. G. H. Greer
Pergamon Pnss
Ltd., 1980. Printed in Northern Ireland
BOOK
REVIEW
J. K. HARGREAVJZS: The Upper Atmosphere and SolarTerrestrial Relations, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, London. XV+300. U.K. f15.00 (hardback), f7.00 (paperback). Over the past decade numerous books have appeared on this subject, each re-presenting the basic story and embracing new material as the subject advanced. Hargreaves’ book is another one in this line but is has much to commend it besides; it is neither an advanced dissertation nor trivially descriptive and it judiciously combines breadth of coverage with depth of treatment. The book is based on a university lecture course given by the author. This field test of the material has, I am sure, contributed much to determining the relevance and weighting of the various sections and has added a continuity and coherence which all students expect and which many will appreciate. I found the book very readable indeed and was able, even without recourse to the ample cross references, to appreciate the roundness of many of the topics taken in isolation. The text is liberally sprinkled with well chosen graphics. An elementary knowledge of classical physics is assumed. Mathematics is, of course, an essential vehicle for any non-trivial physical presentation but the calculus and minimal vector analysis used here will be no problem to the serious student.
655
The first five of the twelve chapters in the book deal with physical fundamentals, observational techniques and characteristics of the upper atmosphere in general and ionosphere in particular. This material, which is crucial to an understanding of the subject, is comprehensively presented in only one third of the text. The remainder of the book is attractively topical. Chapter 6 deals with winds, currents, irregularities and wavesareas currently being actively researched. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 present a lucid and thorough treatment of the magnetosphere-a region which will continue to attract much of the upper atmosphere research effort in the years ahead; these chapters appropriately comprise one third of the text. Chapter 10 discusses solar flares and solar protons; chapter 11, storms and other disturbance phenomena and chapter 12 considers some practical aspects of upper atmosphere studies. For the student actively involved in research the book is no substitute for current published papers-the most recent listed reference is 1976-but even he or she will find time spent in its well cultivated topics refreshing and rewarding. Altogether an excellent text.
R. G. H. Greer