edited by Johnny C L Chan (City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China) & Jeffrey D Kepert (Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Australia)

Table of Contents (68k)
Preface (68k)
Chapter 1: Tropical Cyclone Structure and Dynamics (8,451k)

This book is a completely rewritten, updated and expanded new edition of the original Global Perspectives on Tropical Cyclones published in 1995. It presents a comprehensive review of the state of science and forecasting of tropical cyclones together with the application of this science to disaster mitigation, hence the tag: From Science to Mitigation.

Since the previous volume, enormous progress in understanding tropical cyclones has been achieved. These advances range from the theoretical through to ever more sophisticated computer modeling, all underpinned by a vast and growing range of observations from airborne, space and ocean observation platforms. The growth in observational capability is reflected by the inclusion of three new chapters on this topic. The chapter on the effects of climate change on tropical cyclone activity is also new, and appropriate given the recent intense debate on this issue. The advances in the understanding of tropical cyclones which have led to significant improvements in forecasting track, intensity, rainfall and storm surge, are reviewed in detail over three chapters. For the first time, a chapter on seasonal prediction is included. The book concludes with an important chapter on disaster mitigation, which is timely given the enormous loss of life in recent tropical cyclone disasters.

• Theory of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Tropical Cyclone Structure and Dynamics (J D Kepert)
  • Tropical Cyclone Formation (K J Tory & W M Frank)
  • Air-Sea Interactions in Tropical Cyclones (L K Shay)
  • Movement of Tropical Cyclones (J C L Chan)
  • The Extratropical Transition of Tropical Cyclones: Structural Characteristics, Downstream Impacts, and Forecast Challenges (P A Harr)
• Observations of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Observing and Analyzing the Near-Surface Wind Field in Tropical Cyclones (M D Powell)
  • Satellite Observations of Tropical Cyclones (C Velden & J Hawkins)
  • Aircraft Observations of Tropical Cyclones (S D Aberson et al.)
• Climate Variations of Tropical Cyclone Activity:
  • Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change: A Review (T Knutson et al.)
• Forecasting of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Track and Structure Forecasts of Tropical Cyclones (J Heming & J Goerss)
  • The Influence of Natural Climate Variability on Tropical Cyclones, and Seasonal Forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Activity (S J Camargo et al.)
• Hydrological Aspects of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Storm Surge Modeling and Applications in Coastal Areas (S K Dube et al.)
• Societal Impacts of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Disaster Mitigation and Societal Impacts (D King et al.)