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Before one is able to understand the Caribbean's weather and climate, it is
important to have some knowledge on the general, fundamental phenomena that create
weather and climate. By these fundamentals we mean such things as atmospheric
composition, solar radiation, wind and cloud formation, hydrological cycle, etc.
There are numerous sources in the Internet where these issues are dealt with.
From these, we recommend the PhysicalGeography.net
portal by Dr. Michael Pidwirny, Department of Geography, Okanagan University
College, Canada, for an introdtion to the basic concepts.
From the PhysicalGeography.net
portal, we have selected a list of topics that covers the essential areas related to Caribbean weather and climate. Alternatively, and especially if you
already have some knowledge of physics and the atmosphere, you may start from the
other sections of The Caribbean Learning Center on Weather and Climate, and
return to the Fundamentals and update your knowledge on the basic concepts behind the
particular issue that you do not understand.
The recommended material can be found in six chapters within the FUNDAMENTALS
OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ONLINE TEXTBOOK:
Below you can find a list of the recommended sections of each
chapter.
Furthermore, we encourage you to explore, and perhaps even to
start from the Study
Guide for Introduction to the Atmosphere, which summarizes the CHAPTER 7 and
introduces you to the study of climatology and meteorology. It also
provides a list of key terms, study questions, problems and exercises. In Additional
Readings for Introduction to Atmosphere you find references to mostly
university level textbooks and dictionaries about meteorology, climatology and
atmospheric sciences. Similar resources exist for the other chapters in the FUNDAMENTALS
OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ONLINE TEXTBOOK, too.
Recommended sections of each chapter
CHAPTER 5: The Universe, Earth, Natural Spheres, and Gaia
(c). The
Natural Spheres
CHAPTER 6: Energy and Matter
(c). Energy,
Temperature, and Heat
(e). Laws
of Thermodynamics
(f). The
Nature of Radiation
(g). The
Solar Source of the Earth's Energy
(h). Earth-Sun
Geometry
(i). Earth-Sun
Relationships and Insolation
CHAPTER 7: Introduction to the Atmosphere
(a). Atmospheric
Composition
(b). The
Layered Atmosphere
(c). Physical
Behavior of the Atmosphere and the Gas Laws
(d). Atmospheric
Pressure
(e). The
Ozone Layer
(f). Atmospheric
Effects on Incoming Solar Radiation
(g). Global
Patterns of Insolation Receipts
(h). The
Greenhouse Effect
(i). Net
Radiation and Planetary Energy Balance
(j). Global
Heat Balance: Introduction to Heat Fluxes
(k). The
Concept of Temperature
(l). Daily
and Annual Cycles of Temperature
(m). Global
Surface Temperature Distribution
(n). Forces
Acting to Create Wind
(o). Local
and Regional Wind Systems
(p). Global
Scale Circulation of the Atmosphere
(q). Upper
Air Winds and the Jet Streams
(r). Air
Masses and Frontal Transitional Zones
(s). The
Mid-Latitude Cyclone
(t). Thunderstorms
and Tornadoes
(u). Tropical
Weather and Hurricanes
(v). Climate
Classification and Climatic Regions of the World
(w). Introduction
to Applied Climatology
(x). Earth's
Climatic History
(y). Causes
of Climate Change
(z). El
Nino, La Nina and the Southern Oscillation
CHAPTER 8: Introduction to the Hydrosphere
(a). Physical
Properties of Water
(b). The
Hydrologic Cycle
(c). Atmospheric
Humidity
(d). Condensation,
Freezing, and Deposition
(e). Cloud
Formation Processes
(f). Precipitation
and Fog
(g). Global
Distribution of Precipitation
(h). Acid
Precipitation
(i). Evaporation
and Transpiration
(j). Actual
and Potential Evapotranspiration
(k). Interception,
Stemflow, Canopy Drip, and Throughfall
(l). Infiltration
and Soil Water Storage
(m). Throughflow
and Groundwater Storage
(n). Introduction
to Surface Runoff
(o). Introduction
to the Oceans
(p). Physical
and Chemical Characteristics of Seawater
(q). Surface
and Subsurface Ocean Currents
(r). Ocean
Tides
CHAPTER 9: Introduction to the Biosphere
(h). Species
Diversity and Biodiversity
(r). The
Carbon Cycle
CHAPTER 10: Introduction to the Lithosphere
(w). Erosion
and Deposition
(x). Hillslope
Processes and Mass Movement
(y). Streamflow
and Fluvial Processes
(z). Fluvial
Landforms
(aa). The
Drainage Basin Concept
(ab). Stream
Morphometry
(ac). Coastal
and Marine Processes and Landforms
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