Atmospheric Thermodynamics Elementary Physies and Chemistry

This book is intended as a text for undergraduates in the atmospheric sciences. The
students are expected to have some calculus, general chemistry and classical physics
background although we provide a number of refreshers for those who might have
less experience or need reminders. Our students have also had a survey of the
atmospheric sciences in a qualitative course at freshman level. The primary aim of
the book is to prepare the student for the synoptic and dynamics courses that follow.
We intend that the student gain some understanding of thermodynamics as it applies
to the elementary systems of interest in the atmospheric sciences. A major goal is
for the students to gain some facility in making straightforward calculations. We
have taught the material in a semester course, but in a shorter course some material
can be omitted without regrets later in the book. The book ends with two chapters
that are independent of one another: Chapter 8 on thermochemistry and Chapter 9
on the thermodynamic equation.
This book is the result of teaching an introductory atmospheric thermodynamics
course to sophomores and juniors at Texas A&M University. Several colleagues
have taught the course using earlier versions of the notes and we gratefully
acknowledge Professors R. L. Panetta, Ping Yang, and Don Collins as well as
the students for their many helpful comments. In addition, we have received useful
comments on the chemistry chapter from Professors Sarah Brooks, Gunnar Schade,
and Renyi Zhang. We also thank Professor Kenneth Bowman for many fruitful
discussions. We are grateful for financial support provided by the Harold J. Haynes
Endowed Chair in Geosciences