title: Atmospheric processes and observations.
abstract: The central role of the atmosphere in abrupt climate change is proposed and discussed. This discussion is given in the context of the poleward transport of energy in the climate system and of climate variability and change. A number of examples based on observational and model data are used to illustrate the ideas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6BB, UK.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoskins
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D002980:Climate; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018534:Earth, Planet; D004735:Energy Transfer; D019419:Evolution, Planetary; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D015233:Models, Statistical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010507:Periodicity