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Title: An introduction to dynamic meteorology by James R. Holton ISBN: 0-12-354350-9 Publisher: Academic Press Pub. Date: 1972 Format: Unknown Binding |
Average Customer Rating: 3.2 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: An Underrated Text
Comment: This book, often simply referred to as "Holton", has been roundly cursed by undergraduates since it was first published. I know, because I was one of them. However, as the years went by, and as the number of classes requiring Holton as a text went by, I realized two things. First, that this book was not meant to hold your hand through all the derivations. It requires a competent instructor who can use Holton as a detailed companion to rigorous coursework. This book is NOT for the average person who wishes to study alone. The second thing is that this book was written to fill a gap. There were no similar atmospheric dynamics texts. As a consequence, it must cover a large amount of material in a rather small, college textbook-sized space. It does this well. Yes, the author's writing style is dry to the extreme, and yes, physical explanations are often lacking. However, if you have access to a competent professor, neither of these are problems. One final thought... as we call the book simply "Holton" remember that Frankenstein's monster is often called simply "Frankenstein", but we will leave comparisons to the reader - and to the author!
Rating: 5
Summary: Paramount
Comment: Useful introduction to dynamic meteorology. Covers many fundamental concepts and concisely. It is not a good fluid dynamics book. It is developed for the atmospheric scientist. It contains an exceptional chapter on waves. Also, there are some elementary concepts related to stratospheric dynamics and general circulation that are very well-written.
Rating: 3
Summary: a tough textbook, definitely not one for the coffee table
Comment: Okay, this book doesn't strike me as fantastic either. I like math...and when Holton uses the phrase "it can be shown that..", I cringe. Even meteorologists (like myself) can have difficulty following certain sections of Holton's text, simply because he glosses over (often major) details in derivations and explanations of topics.
That said, the book has come in handy on a couple occasions as a reference tool. Had it not been required, I doubt I would ever have purchased this text. Even in the first four chapters, which I believe are extremely important to all atmospheric scientists, Holton dodges mathmatical rigor and instead gives derivations as end-of-chapter problems.
For a first-year graduate student with a solid math background, this book has more worth. As an undergraduate, I never used the book other than to work the problems my professor assigned out of it. If you are looking for a book to introduce you to meteorology, this will suffice but you can find better!!
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Title: Atmospheric Science : An Introductory Survey by John Wallace, Peter Hobbs ISBN: 0127329501 Publisher: Academic Press Pub. Date: 28 April, 1977 List Price(USD): $49.95 |
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Title: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics by Adrian Gill ISBN: 0122835220 Publisher: Academic Press Pub. Date: 28 November, 1982 List Price(USD): $54.95 |
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Title: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics by Joseph Pedlosky ISBN: 0387963871 Publisher: Springer Verlag Pub. Date: 23 January, 1998 List Price(USD): $79.95 |
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Title: Waves in the Ocean and Atmosphere. Introduction to Wave Dynamics by Joseph Pedlosky ISBN: 3540003401 Publisher: Springer Verlag Pub. Date: 13 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $49.95 |
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Title: Physics of Climate by Abraham H. Oort, Jose Pinto Peixoto ISBN: 0883187124 Publisher: Springer Verlag Pub. Date: February, 1992 List Price(USD): $67.95 |
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