This volume presents a survey of our state of knowledge of the physical and dynamical processes involved in the Asian monsoon. Although traditionally the main emphasis has been on the study of the atmospheric component, it has long been known that the oceans play a vitally important part in determining the occurrence of this spectacular seasonal event. A scientific study of this phenomenon involves a detailed investigation of the dynamical processes which occur in both the atmosphere and the ocean, on timescales on up to at least a year and on spatial scales from a few hundred kilometres or so up to that of the global atmospheric and oceanic circulations. The editors present a coherent survey of each of the meteorological, oceanographic and hydrological aspects and of their implications for weather forecasting and flood prediction. Monsoon Dynamics is a timely survey of a dramatic meteorological phenomenon which will interest meteorologists, climatologists and geophysicists.

The concept of vorticity is of central importance in fluid mechanics and the change and variability of atmospheric flow is dominated by transient vortices of different time- and space scales. Of particular importance are the most in- tense vortices such as hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes which are associated with extreme and hazardous weather events of great concern to society. In recent years the un- derstanding of these phenomena has grown due to increased and improved surveillance by satellites and aircraft as well as by numerical modelling and simulation, theoretical studies and laboratory experiments. The symposium on "Intense Atmospheric Vortices" was held at the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, England, July 14-17, 1981. The subject area of the Symposium was concerned with observational work, experimental models, theoretical and numerical studies in- volving hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes and related pheno- mena. The aim was to bring together experts on these meteo- rological processes and on the fundamental fluid-dynamic mechanisms for vorticity intensification from all parts of the world. Thirtyfour scientists participated in the Sympo- sium, including more than half of those leading world ex- perts in the field whom the organizers had invited.

James Lighthill provides readers with a thorough analysis of sound waves, shock waves, waterwaves of all kinds, and the so called internal waves (inside atmospheres and oceans) due to intensity stratification. He emphasizes the most useful fundamental ideas of wave science, including the principles of how waves interact with flows. This work on one of the great subdivisions of fluid dynamics will be invaluable to engineers, physicists, geophysicists, applied mathematicians, and researchers concerned with wave motions or fluid flows.