Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere is the second volume in the series A Course in Theoretical Meteorology. In the first volume, entitled Dynamics of the Atmosphere, we have covered many of the essential topics of atmospheric motion, but we did not provide any theory from thermodynamics. Whenever information from thermodynamics was required for the development of various topics of dynamic meteorology, we have carefully stated the basic facts without giving any theoretical background. The reader of this book will clearly recognize that Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere are so closely connected that one textbook without the other would give a very incomplete picture of atmospheric weather systems.

We have tried to make this book as self-contained as possible. Whenever some basic facts from atmospheric dynamics are required, we have simply stated these omitting any theoretical considerations. Occasionally, however, it might be desirable, to provide some additional background. In this case we make reference to our book Dynamics of the Atmosphere, which will be abbreviated by DA. Of course, other textbooks might be just as satisfactory, but it would be more difficult for the reader to extract the necessary information in the desired form.

Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere is written for advanced undergraduate and recently graduated students of meteorology and related disciplines. The book contains a sufficient amount of both theory and applications to provide a solid foundation for more advanced studies.