Book excerpt: This is a graduate-level textbook on the global circulation of the Earth's atmosphere-the large-scale system of winds by which energy is transported around the planet, from the tropical latitudes to the poles. Written by David Randall, one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, it is the most comprehensive textbook on the topic. Intended for Earth science students who have completed some graduate-level coursework in atmospheric dynamics, the book will help students build on that foundation, preparing them for research in the field. The book describes the many phenomena of the circulati.