METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS Meteorol. Appl. (2012) BOOK REVIEW THOMAS T. WARNER, 2011. NUMERICAL WEATHER AND CLIMATE PREDICTION, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, UK. ISBN: 978-0-521-51389-0. HARDBACK, 526 PP. This is a very clearly written and eminently readable book which provides a comprehensive general introduction to the use of atmospheric models for climate research or operational forecasting. The book has chapters on the governing systems of equations and their numerical solutions, physical- based parameterizations, model initialization/data assimilation, ensemble methods, predictability, verification methods, experi- mental designs in model-based research, operational prediction, computational fluid dynamics models, climate modelling and downscaling, techniques for analysing model output, statisti- cal post-processing, and special applications such as air-quality modelling and flood prediction. Each chapter contains clear and informative illustrations. Each chapter stands alone and can be read independently. Acronyms, abbreviations and mathematical symbols are listed at the start of the book. Important terms are written in italics when they first appear, in order to identify them as worth remembering. Each chapter contains additional references for those who need further information on particular topics. The target audience for this book is students, researchers, and professionals who use numerical models for their research and applications. The book’s very accessible style means that it could be enjoyed by all of these people, or at least anyone with a basic understanding of atmospheric science. First and foremost it would make an excellent book for anyone wanting a comprehensive understanding of the key components of atmospheric numerical modelling, but it is also suitable for helping: (1) model users to appreciate and understand the capabilities, strengths and weaknesses of numerical modelling, in particular model users from both the meteorological and non-meteorological communities who have little experience in atmospheric modelling and knowledge of the model limitations and who effectively use the model like a ‘black box’, and (2) model developers, to provide them with a fundamental understanding of numerical modelling beyond the often narrow regions which may directly interest them. In summary, this book makes an excellent learning aid and reference text for students and more advanced users of atmospheric models for use in research and operations. As an atmospheric modeller myself, I shall be referring to it frequently from now on. Andrew Orr British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/met.1309 Copyright 2012 Royal Meteorological Society

Thomas T. Warner, 2011. Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. ISBN: 978-0-521-51389-0. Hardback, 526 PP

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Page 1: Thomas T. Warner, 2011. Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. ISBN: 978-0-521-51389-0. Hardback, 526 PP

METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONSMeteorol. Appl. (2012)

BOOK REVIEW

THOMAS T. WARNER, 2011. NUMERICAL WEATHERAND CLIMATE PREDICTION, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITYPRESS, CAMBRIDGE, UK. ISBN: 978-0-521-51389-0.HARDBACK, 526 PP.

This is a very clearly written and eminently readable bookwhich provides a comprehensive general introduction to theuse of atmospheric models for climate research or opera-tional forecasting. The book has chapters on the governingsystems of equations and their numerical solutions, physical-based parameterizations, model initialization/data assimilation,ensemble methods, predictability, verification methods, experi-mental designs in model-based research, operational prediction,computational fluid dynamics models, climate modelling anddownscaling, techniques for analysing model output, statisti-cal post-processing, and special applications such as air-qualitymodelling and flood prediction. Each chapter contains clear andinformative illustrations. Each chapter stands alone and can beread independently. Acronyms, abbreviations and mathematicalsymbols are listed at the start of the book. Important terms arewritten in italics when they first appear, in order to identifythem as worth remembering. Each chapter contains additionalreferences for those who need further information on particulartopics.

The target audience for this book is students, researchers,and professionals who use numerical models for their researchand applications. The book’s very accessible style means that

it could be enjoyed by all of these people, or at least anyonewith a basic understanding of atmospheric science. First andforemost it would make an excellent book for anyone wantinga comprehensive understanding of the key components ofatmospheric numerical modelling, but it is also suitable forhelping: (1) model users to appreciate and understand thecapabilities, strengths and weaknesses of numerical modelling,in particular model users from both the meteorological andnon-meteorological communities who have little experience inatmospheric modelling and knowledge of the model limitationsand who effectively use the model like a ‘black box’, and(2) model developers, to provide them with a fundamentalunderstanding of numerical modelling beyond the often narrowregions which may directly interest them.

In summary, this book makes an excellent learning aidand reference text for students and more advanced users ofatmospheric models for use in research and operations. As anatmospheric modeller myself, I shall be referring to it frequentlyfrom now on.

Andrew OrrBritish Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK

Published online in Wiley Online Library(wileyonlinelibrary.com).

DOI: 10.1002/met.1309