This textbook introduces a set of fundamental equations that govern the conservation of mass
(dry air water vapor trace gas) momentum and energy in the lower atmosphere. Simplifications
of each of these equations are made in the context of boundary-layer processes. Extended from
these equations the author then discusses a key set of issues including (1) turbulence
generation and destruction (2) force balances in various portions of the lower atmosphere (3)
canopy flow (4) tracer diffusion and footprint theory (5) principles of flux measurement and
interpretation (6) models for land evaporation (7) models for surface temperature response to
land use change and (8) boundary layer budget calculations for heat water vapor and carbon
dioxide. Problem sets are supplied at the end of each chapter to reinforce the concepts and
theory presented in the main text. This volume offers the accumulation of insights gained by
the author during his academic career as a researcher and teacher in the field of
boundary-layer meteorology.
