In the first book dedicated to this topic, the authors review the development of fast radiation schemes suitable for large-scale atmospheric models, including numerical weather forecast models and atmospheric general circulation models for climate studies.

The text provides readers with the background and evolution of these models, offering a practical guide for real hands-on experience for implementing and modifying their own weather and climate models, such as the consideration of radiative transfer schemes in numerical weather prediction and the radiation budget in climate modeling. In addition, radiation transfer in other modules of the climate system models is explained, such as in land surface and in ocean and sea ice models.

The authors present a balanced emphasis on the science and technical aspects of the problem, keeping the description of each modeling center brief and specific to its own particular model, with little articulation and explanations of the scientific merits and links to radiation schemes used in other models.

A useful tool for both graduate students and experienced researchers.