This first chapter is an introduction that provides all the basic information that
the reader will need for a profitable use of the book. It reviews the vertical structure of the
atmosphere, the surface-energy budget and concepts of atmospheric stability. The
atmosphere is conventionally divided into layers based on the vertical structure of density,
pressure and temperature fields. This is an important issue in understanding the dynamics
of the middle atmospheric and variations of the main meteorological parameters.
Keywords: Albedo, atmospheric boundary layer, atmospheric stability, Bowen
Ratio, buoyancy frequency, convective boundary layer, geostrophic wind,
gradient Richardson number, internal boundary layer, mixed layer, Monin-
Obukhov parameterisation, Monin-Obukhov similarity, Neutral Boundary Layer,
Obukhov length, Richardson number, Showalter Index, Stable Boundary Layer,
Surface Energy Budget, thermal internal boundary layer.
