INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, VOL. 17, 1611 (1997) BOOK REVIEW THE WEATHER AND CLIMATE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, Andrew Sturman and Nigel Tapper, Oxford University Press (Melbourne), 1996. No. of pages: XI 476. Price: 32.50. ISBN 0-19-553393-3 (Paperback). This is a book that I wish were on my shelf when I first arrived in Australia (from the Northern Hemisphere) 10 years ago. The authors provide a detailed introduction to meteorology and climatology from the perspective of the Australia and New Zealand region of the Southern Hemisphere. The need for such a book arises, as the authors indicate, from the lack of a single suitable introductory text for undergraduate atmospheric science students in this geographic region. The book is, therefore, targeted for such students but is also aimed at more experienced atmospheric scientists and students and professionals from other disciplines. The book is divided into four main sections, each containing several chapters. The ‘Introduction and Global Setting’ introduces the study of the atmosphere and climate, radiative processes and the general atmospheric circulation. In ‘Synoptic-scale Processes and Phenomena’ the authors describe air masses, winds, synoptic-scale weather systems and weather forecasting. ‘Sub-synoptic-scale Processes and Phenomena’ covers mesoscale phenomena (e.g. orographic effects, thunder- storms), regional and urban climates and agricultural climatology. Finally, ‘Climate Change and Variability’ places recent climate variations into a longer term context, discusses variability associated with, for example, El Nin õ– Southern Oscillation events and considers possible future climate changes. The text is well written. The diagrams are well chosen and exceptionally clear—using a consistent format through- out. Specific examples are drawn from the Australia and New Zealand region and in hemispheric and global maps the two countries are highlighted for easy identification. More complicated processes and additional details are presented in boxes and do not interrupt the flow of the text. The 18-page glossary of scientific terms is comprehensive and made more useful by highlighting of the term when it first appears in the text. A list of references and recommended further reading is provided for each of the 12 chapters. The range of references is good and up to date. The useful appendices include definitions of symbols used in the text, basic units, constants and conversions. The book has been well edited and I found no obvious errors or misprints. I think this will prove to be an excellent (and standard) introductory text for atmospheric science students in Australia and New Zealand. The book should also prove useful to students and professionals in other disciplines with a need to understand weather and climate in this part of the Southern Hemisphere. To illustrate how well I believe these authors have addressed a wider audience, in the short time that I have had a copy I have referenced it myself in a scientific paper, referred it to a non-atmospheric science colleague wishing to understand tropical cyclone development in the Australian region and referred it to an 11-year old doing a school project on weather maps. I can highly recommend this book not only to those based in the region but also to people based in the Northern Hemisphere with an interest in atmospheric processes and climate of the Australia and New Zealand region. J. M. LOUGH Australian Institute of Marine Science CCC 0899-8418/97/141611–01 $17.50 # 1997 Royal Meteorological Society

Book review: The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand, Andrew Sturman and Nigel Tapper, Oxford University Press (Melbourne), 1996. No. of pages: XI+476. Price: 32.50. ISBN

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, VOL. 17, 1611 (1997)

BOOK REVIEW

THE WEATHER AND CLIMATE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW

ZEALAND, Andrew Sturman and Nigel Tapper, OxfordUniversity Press (Melbourne), 1996. No. of pages:XI� 476. Price: 32.50. ISBN 0-19-553393-3 (Paperback).

This is a book that I wish were on my shelf when I ®rstarrived in Australia (from the Northern Hemisphere) 10years ago. The authors provide a detailed introduction tometeorology and climatology from the perspective of theAustralia and New Zealand region of the SouthernHemisphere. The need for such a book arises, as the authorsindicate, from the lack of a single suitable introductory textfor undergraduate atmospheric science students in thisgeographic region. The book is, therefore, targeted for suchstudents but is also aimed at more experienced atmos-pheric scientists and students and professionals from otherdisciplines.

The book is divided into four main sections,each containing several chapters. The `Introductionand Global Setting' introduces the study of the atmosphereand climate, radiative processes and the general atmos-pheric circulation. In `Synoptic-scale Processes andPhenomena' the authors describe air masses, winds,synoptic-scale weather systems and weather forecasting.`Sub-synoptic-scale Processes and Phenomena' coversmesoscale phenomena (e.g. orographic effects, thunder-storms), regional and urban climates and agriculturalclimatology. Finally, `Climate Change and Variability'places recent climate variations into a longer term context,discusses variability associated with, for example, El NinÄo±Southern Oscillation events and considers possible futureclimate changes.

The text is well written. The diagrams are well chosenand exceptionally clearÐusing a consistent format through-

out. Speci®c examples are drawn from the Australia andNew Zealand region and in hemispheric and global mapsthe two countries are highlighted for easy identi®cation.More complicated processes and additional details arepresented in boxes and do not interrupt the ¯ow of the text.The 18-page glossary of scienti®c terms is comprehensiveand made more useful by highlighting of the term when it®rst appears in the text. A list of references andrecommended further reading is provided for each of the12 chapters. The range of references is good and up to date.The useful appendices include de®nitions of symbols usedin the text, basic units, constants and conversions. The bookhas been well edited and I found no obvious errors ormisprints.

I think this will prove to be an excellent (and standard)introductory text for atmospheric science students inAustralia and New Zealand. The book should also proveuseful to students and professionals in other disciplineswith a need to understand weather and climate in this partof the Southern Hemisphere. To illustrate how well Ibelieve these authors have addressed a wider audience, inthe short time that I have had a copy I have referenced itmyself in a scienti®c paper, referred it to a non-atmosphericscience colleague wishing to understand tropical cyclonedevelopment in the Australian region and referred it to an11-year old doing a school project on weather maps. I canhighly recommend this book not only to those based in theregion but also to people based in the Northern Hemispherewith an interest in atmospheric processes and climate of theAustralia and New Zealand region.

J. M. LOUGH

Australian Institute of Marine Science

CCC 0899-8418/97/141611±01 $17.50

# 1997 Royal Meteorological Society