Clouds, in their various forms, are a vital part of our lives. The second edition of this comprehensive textbook includes new tables, color figures, and updates taking into account recent research. It discusses cloud types and their effects on climate, including the Earth's energy budget and the hydrological cycle. These depend on processes on the cloud microphysical scale, encompassing the formation of cloud droplets, ice crystals and precipitation, as well as on the stability and dynamics of the large-scale environment and availability of aerosol particles. Chapters cover fundamentals of atmospheric thermodynamics, radiation, midlatitude and tropical storms, and climate intervention. Supplementary problem sets and multiple-choice questions for each chapter are available online. Combining mathematical formulations with qualitative explanations of the underlying concepts, this book requires relatively little previous knowledge, making it ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in atmospheric science and related disciplines. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

‘This textbook on clouds is authoritative yet approachable, appropriate for upper level undergraduate or graduate students who have no prior background in atmospheric science. After introducing fundamental concepts in radiation, dynamics, and thermodynamics, it then describes the microphysics of both warm and cold clouds and the roles of clouds in precipitation and storm systems. The second edition is particularly impressive for its state-of-the-art description of our evolving understanding of the relationships between aerosol particles and clouds, the role of clouds in the climate system, and the importance of clouds to potential climate intervention strategies.’

Jon Abbott - University of Toronto

‘Lohmann and Mahrt have delivered a definitive modern reference for cloud science. Masterfully bridging the space from detailed microphysics to the role of clouds in global climate change, it is my primary resource whether teaching the basics of contrail science to undergraduates or refining a cirrus cloud model for research purposes. In particular, the text's integration of clear and comprehensive diagrams with research-relevant equations and real-world photographic examples allows it to be both accessible and authoritative.’

Sebastian Eastham - Imperial College London

‘This book stands out for its ability to present both a comprehensive overview of cloud microphysical processes and a larger-scale perspective on clouds and their role in the climate system. It is an excellent introduction to clouds for university students, combining clear, pedagogical illustrations with an accessible writing style, without compromising scientific rigor.’

Annica Ekman - Stockholm University

‘The second edition of An Introduction to Clouds: From the Microscale to Climate should be a part of any collection of books on clouds and their impact on our environment. I have used the first edition as the required textbook for an upper level undergraduate and graduate course on cloud microphysics and will now replace it with the second edition. The level of the book is perfect for this usage; students often comment that it is both approachable for the non-expert and yet contains the advanced concepts required for a full understanding of the topic.’

Daniel Cziczo - The University of Chicago