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Just what does it take to be a stratonaut, soaring to higher and higher altitudes of Earth's atmosphere? Brave men and women have reached extreme heights in balloons, aircraft and rocket ships over the past two centuries, from the first untethered balloon flight to the first flights in the newly defined stratosphere, through to the present flights that continue to set new records. This book defines the altitudes related to the stratosphere, how it changes with latitude and the effects on ascending aviators. Also described is how over time technology enabled aircraft and balloons to achieve higher altitudes. The book shows the clear influence of the military on designs that initially focused on speed and maneuverability, but only later on reaching new altitudes. The early flights into the troposphere and eventually the mid to upper reaches of the stratosphere are chronicled, with great emphasis on flight operations. This includes decompression, bailouts, inertia coupling, ejections, catastrophic disintegration, crashes and deaths. Although the book highlights major altitude attempts and records, it also focuses on the life-threatening problems confronting the would-be stratonaut and the causes of many of their deaths. In doing so, it tries to define just what it takes to be a stratonaut.

It is now a quarter of a century since Junge and his coworkers recovered the first sample from the sulfate aerosol layer in the stratosphere. Since that time vast strides have been made in determining its physical properties and morphology. These investigations have been performed with instruments on board aircraft and balloon platforms as in the early days, with ground-based lidar (optical radar), and most recently with satellite-borne optical instruments. It will become evident in Chapter 2 that in situ measurements by aircI'aft and,balloon sensors complement rather than duplicate the remote techniques (lidar and satellite). Hence future programs will probably continue to utilize direct as well as indirect experimental techniques. Concurrently, with the observations of the gross properties of the aerosol layer, la~oratory and theoretical studies have sought to elucidate the chemical and micro­ physical processes which influence the formation and growth of the aerosol par­ ticles. The laboratory investigations have included studies of gas phase chemistry, and particle nucleation and growth mechanisms. Theoretical studies have revolved mainly around a series of models developed by atmospheric scientists. The earliest of these models was constructed by Junge and his colleagues. With the advent of third- and fourth-generation computers, the capacity to solve the quite complex continuity equations whi~h govern particle formation, growth, and removal has ad­ vanced to the point where most of the particle properties can be simulated with reasonable confidence.

The reader may be surprised to learn that the word'aeronomy'is not found in many of the standard dictionaries of the English language (for exam­ ple. Webster's International dictionary). Yet the term would appear to exist, as evidenced by the affiliations of the two authors of this volume (Institut d'Aeronomie, Brussels, Belgium; Aeronomy Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, USA). Perhaps part of this obscu­ rity arises because aeronomy is a relatively new and evolving field of endeavor, with a history dating back no farther than about 1940. The Chambers dic­ tionary of science and technology provides the following definition:'aeronomy (Meteor.). The branch of science dealing with the atmosphere of the Earth and the other planets with reference to their chemical com­ position, physical properties, relative motion,

Since the Industrial Revolution the chemical composition of the atmosphere has changed at a rate unprecedented in recent history. Ozone depletion emerged as one of the most important environmental issues of the 20th century as evidence grew for substantial human influences on the atmospheric ozone abundances over much of the globe. The science of the ozone layer and its interactions with halogenated chemical compounds are the primary subjects of this book. The volume provides a comprehensive view of the chemical, dynamical, and radiative processes that affect ozone and other chemicals in the stratosphere and mesosphere. Over recent decades our understanding of these processes has increased dramatically. The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole has shown that human activities can lead to major changes in our environment. From a review of a previous edition -'[…] an interesting and well-written overview of the current status of our knowledge of the composition of the middle atmosphere and the basic radiative, dynamical and photochemical processes which maintain it.'(Bulletin American Meteorological Society)

Interest in the meteorology of the stratosphere and mesophere has been simulated in the past few years by concerns over possible depletion of the ozone layer as a result of reactions involving pollutants introduced by human activities. Concurrently there has been an upsurge in research on various aspects of the meteorology of the stratosphere. This monograph provides an account of the fundamental dynamical processes which control the general circulation of the stratosphere and mesophere and are thus responsible for the transport of trace substances in that region of the atmosphere. Principles necessary for understanding the dynamics of large-scale motions in the stratosphere and mesosphere are systematically developed so that this monograph should prove useful not only as a reference work for research scientists, but as a textbook for courses in dynamic meteorology of the upper atmosphere.

For advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in atmospheric, oceanic, and climate science, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics is an introductory textbook on the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean and their interaction, with an emphasis on global scales. It will give students a good grasp of what the atmosphere and oceans look like on the large-scale and why they look that way. The role of the oceans in climate and paleoclimate is also discussed. The combination of observations, theory and accompanying illustrative laboratory experiments sets this text apart by making it accessible to students with no prior training in meteorology or oceanography.• Written at a mathematical level that is appealing for undergraduates andbeginning graduate students• Provides a useful educational tool through a combination of observations andlaboratory demonstrations which can be viewed over the web• Contains instructions on how to reproduce the simple but informativelaboratory experiments• Includes copious problems (with sample answers) to help students learn thematerial.