This book is written for upper-division undergraduates and new graduate stu- dents in meteorology, ocean engineering, and oceanography. Because these stu- dents have a diverse background, I have emphasized ideas and concepts more than mathematical derivations.
Unlike most books, I am distributing this book for free in digital format via the world-wide web. I am doing this for two reasons:
1. Textbooks are usually out of date by the time they are published, usually a year or two after the author finishes writing the book. Randol Larson, writing in Syllabus, states: “In my opinion, technology textbooks are a waste of natural resources. They’re out of date the moment they are published. Because of their short shelf life, students don’t even want to hold on to them”—(Larson, 2002). By publishing in electronic form, I can make revisions every year, keeping the book current.
2. Many students, especially in less-developed countries cannot afford the high cost of textbooks from the developed world. This then is a gift from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration nasa to the students of the world.