Therefore there is need to make available books to cater to the needs of aspiring students for gaining insight and understanding of fundamentals and basic concepts easily so that they can acquire further knowledge by going through Advanced Text Books and Reference Material. With this objective, we attempted to write the Present Book on ‘Conceptual Meteorology’ in its simplest form intended to cater the needs of students doing the Master’s in Agricultural Meteorology. We believe that such simple books have to be developed for different courses in Agricultural Meteorology by the Senior Faculties and Learned Scientists to promote aptitude for learning and acquiring better professional approach to serve the needs of Agricultural Sector with better dedication and commitment. The authors are wholly indebted to Dr Rupa Kumar Kolli, Honorary Scientist & Former Executive Director, International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) at IITM, Pune, former President, Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) and Former Chief, World Climate Applications & Services Division at WMO, Switzerland for his thoughtful message by writing foreword for this book.

There is always scope for improvement and we appreciate suggestions from one and all who have entirely examined the book at hand.

BV Ramana Rao taught Agricultural Meteorology in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during the years 1966 to 1979 and later joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and superannuated from service during April, 2000. He served as Head, Division of Climatology, Wind Power and Solar Energy Utilization at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur (Rajasthan); founder Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Agrometeorology at ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad (Telangana) during December 1984 to March 1994. His major contributions in the field of Agrometeorology include Agroclimatic Characterization, Delineation of Efficient Cropping Zones, Crop Weather Modeling, classification and management of agricultural droughts, Operational Agrometeorology, etc. He published about 150 research papers in peer reviewed journals with 50 of his papers appearing in high impact International Journals. He authored 5 books and monographs and a number of scientific and technical bulletins. He served as Editor in Chief, Journal of Agrometeorology during the years 2009 to 2023.

He is the recipient of British Council Fellowship during the year 1986 -87 for advanced training at University of Reading, United Kingdom. He was conferred as Honorary Fellow, Association of Agrometeorologists during the year 2011 for his valuable contribution to the growth and development of Agricultural Meteorology in India.

Surender Singh has about thirty five years of experience with PhD in the field of Agrometeorology. Worked in Agrometeorology encompassing teaching, research, extension and administration at various capacities viz., Principal Scientist, Professor & Head, Senior Scientist, Assistant Scientist, Advisor (Recruitments) and Associate Director (Students’ Counseling and Placement) at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India.

He is life member of Association of Agrometeorologists, Indian Meteorological Society, Indian Society of Remote Sensing, International Society for Agrometeorology, Society for Sustainable Agric & Resource Management, Environment Science Published for Everybody Round the Earth (ESPERE), European Drought Centre, South Asian Forum on Agriculture Meteorology (SAFOAM)  and The Geographical Society of India. Organized quite a few trainings/symposia in Agrometeorology and associated domains at National level. Published more than 250 research papers, popular articles, manuals/teaching aids and research bulletins/book chapters etc. Performed responsibilities as Managing Editor - Journal of Agrometeorology, Research Collaborator, Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research Consortium (MARCO), Japan, Member, Expert Team - CAgM-WMO, Geneva, Switzerland (2018-20). Core Committee Member on Agriculture – Drought at WMO, Geneva, Switzerland (2021-24 & 2024-27). External Expert for evaluation of research projects submitted at COST-Association, European Union, Brussels, Belgium. Many students (UG, PG and PhD) were trained under him spread across the country and settled in various positions in the field of Agrometeorology. Widely travelled across 15 countries on academic pursuits.

V Uma Maheswara Rao has forty years of experience with PhD in the broader field of Agrometeorology. Worked in Agrometeorology encompassing teaching, research, extension and administration at various capacities viz., Project Coordinator, Principal Scientist, Professor  & Head, Agrometeorologist, and Assistant Scientist at CCS Haryana Agricultural University and Indian Council of Agriculture Research in India.

He is life member of Indian Meteorological Society, The Arid Zone Research Association of India, Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Association of Agrometeorologists, International Society for Agrometeorology, and The Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture. Organized several trainings/workshops in Agrometeorology at the International and National level. Published 344 Research papers, popular articles, manuals/teaching aids and research bulletins/book chapters. Member of the CCI-ET-IIC, WMO, Geneva (2014-2017). Member of XI plan High Power Review Committee of Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India (2012). The prestigious Choudary Devil Lal Award, ICAR best AICRPAM was obtained under his dynamic leadership as project coordinator in 2014. Many students (UG, PG and Ph.D) were trained under him spread across the country and settled in various positions in the field of Agrometeorology. He visited 10 countries in his official capacity.

1. Introduction

2. The Atmosphere

3. Physical Processes in the Atmosphere

4. Temperature and Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere

5. Atmospheric Pressure

6. Moisture in the Atmosphere

7. Cloud Classification

8. General Circulation

9. Climatic Classification

10. Drought Climatology

11. Heat Waves and Cold Waves

12. Global Weather Parameters and its Impact on Rainfall in India

13. Climatic Features in India

14. Climatic Classification of India (Thornthwaite Method)

15. Climate Change

16. Some Physical Parameters and Their Units