Includes bibliographical references (p. 461-522) and index.

This textbook provides a comprehensive yet accessible treatment of weather and climate prediction, for graduate students, researchers and professionals. It teaches the strengths, weaknesses and best practices for the use of atmospheric models. It is ideal for the many scientists who use such models across a wide variety of applications. The book describes the different numerical methods, data assimilation, ensemble methods, predictability, land-surface modeling, climate modeling and downscaling, computational fluid-dynamics models, experimental designs in model-based research, verification methods, operational prediction, and special applications such as air-quality modeling and flood prediction. This volume will satisfy everyone who needs to know about atmospheric modeling for use in research or operations. It is ideal both as a textbook for a course on weather and climate prediction and as a reference text for researchers and professionals from a range of backgrounds: atmospheric science, meteorology, climatology, environmental science, geography, and geophysical fluid mechanics/dynamics. Provides a one-stop resource for a range of subjects related to numerical weather and climate prediction. Practical information is emphasized for model users, rather than focusing on any one aspect of the modeling process. Material presented is based on a course taught by the author for over 30 years at the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Colorado, Boulder, and benefits from the author's wide practical modeling experience at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research.