Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series

The book begins with three introductory chapters that provide some basic physics and explain the principles of physical investigation. The principal material contained in the main part of the book covers the neutral and ionized upper atmosphere, the magnetosphere, and structures, dynamics, disturbances, and irregularities. The concluding chapter deals with technological applications. The account is introductory, at a level suitable for readers with a basic background in engineering or physics. The intent is to present basic concepts, and for that reason, the mathematical treatment is not complex. SI units are given throughout, with helpful notes on cgs units where these are likely to be encountered in the research literature. This book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are taking introductory courses on upper atmospheric, ionospheric, or magnetospheric physics. This is a successor to The Upper Atmosphere and Solar-Terrestrial Relations, published in 1979.

Focusing on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and atmospheric dynamics, the author offers a personal perspective shaped by years of teaching and research. The book distills complex theories into simpler principles, presenting them in a distinctive and occasionally unconventional manner. Aimed at students and researchers with prior knowledge, it encourages a deeper understanding of fluid mechanics beyond standard undergraduate curricula, making it a valuable resource for those looking to expand their academic and philosophical grasp of the subject.

This introduction to the molecular theory of gases and modern transport theory includes such basic concepts as distribution function, classical theory of specific heats, binary collisions, mean free path and reaction rates, as well as topics relevant to advanced transport theory.