This book is a proceedings of the ‘International Symposium on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Mountain Meteorology’, held in 20-24 March, 1984. It is a comprehensive summary of important research results in the field of mountain meteorology, including sub-topics such as field observation, dynamic and thermal effects of the mountains on general circulation, results obtained through the numerical models with the large-scale topography, and circulation systems on the Plateau.

In this proceeding there are paperbounds presented by the participants at a meeting held in Beijing, China, 20-24 March 1984, including those on the following important aspects relating to mountain meteorology: the field observation, the dynamic and thermal effects of the mountains on the general circulation, the results obtained through the numerical models with the large-scale topography, and the circulation systems on the Plateau.

1. Predicting the Hydrological Effects of Climate Change.- Section I Sensitivity of the Global Hydrosphere Section Summary.- 2. An Introduction to Global Water Dynamics.- 3. Modelling the Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle: Upscaling Processes and Downscaling Weather Data.- 4. Trends in Historical Steamflow Records.- Section II Regional Implications of Global Warming Section Summary.- 5. Hydrology of Northern North America under Global Warming.- 6. Current Evidence on the Likely Impact of Global Warming on Hydrological Regimes in Europe.- 7. The Impact of Climatic Warming on Hydrological Regimes in China: An Overview.- Section III Precipitation Change and Variability Section Summary.- 8. The Influence of Topography, Season and Circulation on Spatial Patterns of Daily Precipitation.- 9. Use of Artificial Neural Networks in Precipitation Forecasting.- 10. Generation of Sequences of Air Temperature and Precipitation for Estimation of the Hydrological Cycle in Changing Climatic Conditions in Poland.- 11. Some Aspects of Climatic Fluctuation at Four Stations on the Tibetan Plateau during the Last 40 Years.- 12. The Influences of the North Atlantic Oscillation, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on Winter Precipitation in Ireland.- Section IV Impacts on Snow, Ice and Meltwaters Section Summary.- 13. Runoff Formation and Discharge Modelling of a Glacierized Basin in the Tianshan Mountains.- 14. Impact of Future Climate Change on Glacier Runoff and the Possibilities for Artificially Increasing Melt Water Runoff in the Aral Sea Basin.- 15. Glaciers and Snowcover in Central Asia as Indicators of Climate Change in the Earth-Ocean-Atmosphere System.- 16. Global Warming and the Trend toward Dryness in the Frigid High Mountains and Plateau of Western China.- Section V The Water Balance and Changing Regional Resources Section Summary.- 17. A Method to Assess the Effects of Climatic Warming on the Water Balance of Mountainous Regions.- 18. Sensitivity Analyses for the Impact of Global Warming on Water Resources in Wales.- 19. Potential Hydrological Responses to Climate Change in Australia.- 20. Dynamics of Stage Fluctuation in Yangzhouyongcuo Lake, Tibetan Plateau.- 21. Derivation of Surface Temperature, Albedo, and Radiative Fluxes over the Tibetan Plateau Based on Satellite Measurement.- 22. Climatic Warming and its Impact on the Water Resources of the Yalong River, China.- 23. The Probable Impact of Global Change on the Water Resources of Patagonia, Argentina.- 24. Long Term Trends in the Water Balance of Central Japan.- Conclusions.- 25. The Impact of Global Warming on Regional Hydrology and Future Research Priorities.

This book provides a comprehensive text describing and explaining mountain weather and climate processes. It presents the results of a broad range of studies drawn from across the world. The book is useful for specialist courses in climatology as well as for scientists in related disciplines.

Home to large numbers of people, sources of water, centres of tourism, and sensitive ecological zones, mountain environments share distinctive climactic characteristics. Once regarded as economically non-viable regions, mountains now attract major investment as sites of tourism, hydro-power and communication routes. This book brings together some of the current work on the physical and human ecology of mountain environments, the impacts of climate change, the processes involved and their observation and prediction.