Trade Wind Inversion Variability, Dynamics and FutureChange

The trade wind, as the name implied, powered thetrade of ancient mariners. It also supplies theenergy for the circulation of the tropical andsubtropical atmosphere, known as the Hadleycirculation. The trade wind inversion (TWI), an airlayer that is several hundred meters thick at analtitude of a few hundreds to a few thousands meters,is the prevailing feature of the trade winds,guaranteeing the energy source for theHadley circulation. Within the TWI, the airtemperature increases, in contrast to the generaltrend of decreasing temperatures with increasedaltitude in the troposphere. The TWI creates adivision, with relatively dry air above and moist airbelow. Therefore the TWI is particularly importantfor the vertical vegetation distribution of tropicalmountain ecosystem. This book explores how the TWImay change in a future climate based on the data fromthe Hawaiian region. It will be of interest forthose concerned with the environmental impact ofclimate change in the tropics and subtropics.