Martin Beniston Livres

Focusing on climate processes and variability, this work delves into the unique climatic challenges faced by Switzerland, shaped by its complex alpine topography. The book utilizes extensive observational data from both natural and social sciences to provide a thorough analysis of climate change trends and their impacts in the region. It highlights the significance of Switzerland as a case study for understanding broader climatic issues, reflecting growing public and scientific interest in this rapidly evolving field.

This volume contains a selection of scientific papers which were presented at an international workshop on the impacts of climatic variability held in Wengen, Switzerland, September 1997. For the first time, an assessment is made of the interactions between physical and biological elements of the Earth System on the basis of shifts in extreme climatic conditions, rather than simply changes in mean atmospheric conditions which research has tended to focus on until recently. Natural ecosystems and forests are typical examples of systems which, while constrained within certain ranges of mean climate, can undergo rapid and often irreversible damage in the face of short-lived but intense extreme events.

1. Introduction.- 2. Fundamental Concepts Related to Atmospheric Modeling.- 3. Investigations with the DeardorffSommeria ABL Model.- 4. Investigations with the DREAMS Mesoscale Meteorological Model.- 5. Simulations of Climate and Climate Change.- 6. Coupling the Mesoscale to the Air Pollution Simulations.- 7. Observational Evidence of Regional Climate Change.- 8. Coupling the Macroscale to the Regional Climate Simulations.- 9. Concluding Remarks and Bibliography.- List of Commonly Used Mathematical Symbols.