Book Description
METEOROLOGY TODAY has for many years been one of the most widely used and authoritative texts for the introductory meteorology course. This eighth edition sees improvements in flexibility for instructors and strengthened learning solutions for students.Author C. Donald Ahrens has been widely praised for his ability to explain relatively complicated ideas so that even under-prepared students can understand them. The text's clear and inviting narrative is supplemented by numerous pedagogical features that help augment students' understanding. Introductory stories found at the beginning of each chapter draw students naturally into the discussion. In-chapter reviews help students master concepts while they study, and four types of end-of-chapter exercises provide opportunities for everything from further review to in-class discussion questions.In addition to these in-text learning aids, the eighth edition sees a complete integration with CengageNOW, the first assessment-driven and student-centered online learning solution created specifically for this course. CengageNOW uses a series of chapter-specific diagnostic tests to build a personalized learning plan for each student, allowing students to focus their study time on specific areas of weaknesses. Each personalized learning plan directs students to specific chapter sections and concept-driven multimedia tutorials designed to augment their understanding.The new edition is available in its original nineteen chapter "classic" version, or as a "core" version, which features only the most popular sixteen chapters. The "core" version sacrifices none of the detail that the course needs, but eliminates chapters that may not be directly covered in class. Looking for more flexibility? With the Cengage Learning TextChoice custom solution program, instructors can select and reorganize chapters to perfectly match their syllabus, thereby creating the ideal text solution for the course. ... Read more

Book Description
This updated and enhanced Fourth Edition of ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY is written by the most widely read, trusted author in introductory meteorology. Ahrens' ability to explain relatively complicated ideas in a student-friendly, manageable fashion allows even non-science students to visualize the principles of meteorology. Introductory stories at the beginning of each chapter draw students naturally into the discussion while "Did You Know?" sections highlight interesting weather facts and recent meteorological events. Updated material in this edition includes new Weather Watch and Focus boxes, as well as updated art, maps, and figures. The package of teaching and learning tools to accompany this text will now include course management, and a FREE, brand-new, student tutorial system - MeteorologyNow. MeteorologyNow is Web-based, assessment-driven, completely flexible, and contains a wealth of book-specific interactivities. It also offers a personalized learning plan based on each student's assessment results, helping the student focus on the concepts they don't yet understand. This complete teaching package provides each student with fun, interactive learning opportunities and an even greater chance for success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For a science textbook, not bad...
I taught an online class this semester on meteorology, and this was the textbook I was given. I always hold my breath a bit concerning textbooks, because I've taught chemistry, physics, cell biology, and meteorology...and my background includes two degrees in neuroscience. I never stop reading. As a deaf person who doesn't listen to music, go to movies, or watch television much, reading is my source of relaxation as well as involved in my work. I tend towards either nonfiction or classical literature lately, and much of my reading involves science and specifically weather. Global warming is such a hot topic now, and I've wanted to stay on top of this also because of my interest and ethical work as concerns deaf people in catastrophic occurences.

Anyway, this was definitely one of the better textbooks. My students didn't start having problems until the fifth and sixth chapters, which were way too technical on air pressure and wind for an online course and for students who were taking this class with no prior physics. Since physics is deeply involved in weather science, it would have been much easier to teach those chapters in a classroom, though I am now exploring avenues to teach these very things online.

I felt that the author of this textbook was speaking to the students this time instead of writing to his peer group (which is how many textbook and journal articles write today). The information is interesting, and thorough, and the textbook can definitely be adapted to younger classes or beginning science classrooms. It would just take some time to adapt it better and unfortunately, the university I taught at just changed their online program which everyone was required to learn at the same time they were expected to also do classwork. I also had to cut down the amount to be learned because it was an eight week course, instead of a semester course. That also complicated things...but I thought on the whole this was a good book, and I am continuing to read the rest of it for my own personal understanding.

Karen L. Sadler
Pittsburgh, PA

Excellent
This is a wonderful book to teach to Junior High kids. I bought it though for my Meteorology class at the Junior college I attend. ... Read more

Book Description
METEOROLOGY TODAY has for many years been one of the most widely used and authoritative texts for the introductory meteorology course. Each edition is extensively reviewed by leading researchers in the field to ensure that the text remains completely up-to-date and reflects today's current understanding of meteorological concepts.Author Donald Ahrens has been widely praised for his ability to explain relatively complicated ideas so that even under-prepared students can understand them. The text's clear and inviting presentation is supplemented by numerous pedagogical features that help augment students' understanding. Introductory stories found at the beginning of each chapter draws students naturally into the discussion. In-chapter reviews then help students to consolidate their understanding as they read, while four types of end-of-chapter exercises provide opportunities for everything from further review to in-class discussion questions. Graphics are carefully designed and subsequently refined so that the key ideas clearly emerge. Many of the photos in the book are taken by the author and provide unmatched images of dramatic weather phenomena. A unique and popular feature over this title's seven editions has been the foldout cloud chart at the back of the book.The package of teaching and learning tools to accompany this text will now include course management, and a FREE, brand-new, student tutorial system - MeteorologyNow.MeteorologyNow is Web-based, assessment-driven, completely flexible, and contains a wealth of book-specific interactivities. It also offers a personalized learning plan based on each student?s assessment results, helping the student focus on the concepts they don?t yet understand.This complete teaching package provides each student with fun, interactive learning opportunities and an even greater chance for success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Intro text book
One of the best introduction to metrology I have read.Great for any anyone that is interested in the weather.Gives more information then average books that are found at local book stores.Also the on line tests help you know what you have learned.

Great Book
This is a great book. It was expensive (aren't all college textbooks?), but worth it.

As a beginning weather hobbyist with a new weather station, I have been looking at many weather books over the past couple months. I have been disappointed. Most seem geared to elementary school levels. A couple handfuls are for the general population, a few intermediate, and a couple handfuls are for more advanced hobbyists or professionals.

This book was one of the very few that I would strongly recommend. The information is great and presented very well. It is colorful and slick (yes, substance is more important than slickness, but this book has both).

I found the CD less than useful, so I tried it and removed it. You won't be missing anything, really. The book has it all. Just a great book.

Disappointing extras
For a meteorology reference tool, save money and buy the book used without the CD or infotrac.The blueskies CD is only good for one year from activiation according to the license agreement and infotrac is a 4 month subscription to online databases that are largely available for free at the public library.

Awesome
I am enrolled in a Meteorology course right now.I bought this book sometime ago to get ready for the coursework in Meteorology.I had read a bunch of books prior to this one and I found this book to be well written.Easy to understand and great illustrations make it easy for anyone to understand it.May be a bit too basic for some.If you need to know more about Meteorology and want to know more than the average Joe...then buy this book....you won't regret it.I love it!

Fairly good introduction to the subject of meteorology
This text is a very basic introduction to the world of meteorology. The writing style is very simplistic, as the book seems to be intended for non-science majors. There are very few quantitative portions and the few math portions that are there could use a little more expansion. All in all, this book is suitable for anyone who wants an introduction to the weather without having to do numerous calculations. ... Read more

Book Description
This updated and enhanced Fifth Edition of ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY is written by the widely read and authoritative author in introductory meteorology-Donald Ahrens. Ahrens's ability to explain relatively complicated ideas in a student-friendly, manageable fashion will allow you to easily visualize the principles of meteorology. ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY is completely updated with over 250 new images and figures and the latest research and coverage. This new edition is accompanied by a self-paced tutorial system--CengageNOW for ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY. CengageNOW is Web-based, assessment-driven, completely flexible, and contains a wealth of book-specific interactivities. It offers a personalized study plan based on your assessment results, helping you focus on the concepts you don't yet understand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Reading with the most awesome teacher.
Having a real meteorologist educate you on the fundamentals of weather, makes this book a real joy! ... Read more

Book Description
This updated and enhanced Fifth Edition of ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY is written by the widely read and authoritative author in introductory meteorology-Donald Ahrens. Ahrens's ability to explain relatively complicated ideas in a student-friendly, manageable fashion will allow you to easily visualize the principles of meteorology. ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY is completely updated with over 250 new images and figures and the latest research and coverage. This new edition is accompanied by a self-paced tutorial system--ThomsonNOW for ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY. ThomsonNOW is Web-based, assessment-driven, completely flexible, and contains a wealth of book-specific interactivities. It offers a personalized study plan based on your assessment results, helping you focus on the concepts you don't yet understand. ... Read more

Book Description
The Second Edition of Roland Stull's METEOROLOGY FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS lets professors quantify the concepts in Ahren's METEOROLOGY TODAY, SEVENTH EDITION like never before. This book can serve as a technical companion to Ahren's text or as a stand-alone text. It provides the mathematical equations needed for a higher level of understanding of meteorology. The organization is mapped directly to the Ahrens book, making Stull's text a perfect companion. More than a lab manual or workbook, this text contains detailed math and physics that expand upon concepts presented in Ahrens' text, as well as numerous solved problems. This text demonstrates how to use mathematical equations (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and finite differential equations) to explain the dominant characteristics of certain atmospheric phenomena and processes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent introduction
As the title of this book implies, it was written for those readers who are not specialists in meteorology but who are interested in a more technical introduction to the subject, and not just one written for the "general audience." The book serves this need very well, and it is a joy to read, even if it is not read cover to cover, as was the case for this reviewer. Each topic, weather it is hurricanes, tornadoes, or turbulence, is presented with many examples, with unit and "reasonableness" checks accompanying these examples. The mathematics is straightforward, with the physics being emphasized with numerous back-of-the-envelope calculations dispersed throughout the text. As in any high-quality book that seeks to explain, and not merely expound, diagrams are used throughout. And most importantly, the author encourages student readers to break out on their own and investigate the various meteorological phenomena without the guidance of the book. This has the effect of encouraging independence of thought and intellectual honesty. This is strongly emphasized in the discussion on climate change, definitely the best chapter in the book in the opinion of this reviewer, wherein the author discusses the ethics of scientific investigation. There have been a few investigators that have violated the canon of ethics that the author outlines, but the state of scientific and technological knowledge at the present time is ample proof that many do not.

The chapter on climate change could in fact be used as an introduction to a more serious investigation of this topic, one that is independent of the political overtones that seem to have poisoned the atmosphere of debate on it. The author discusses climate change in terms of `heuristic models' that he admits are oversimplified, but do serve as a didactic tool to illustrate the main processes and physics. He does allude to `global climate models' but cautions that the large number of approximations involved in these models make them very tentative at best. The Greenhouse effect is discussed via the Stefan-Boltzmann law, and the resulting overestimation of the average temperature leads the author to complicating this scenario via the infrared "atmospheric window", and water-vapor, cloud, and ice-albedo feedbacks. Again, these discussions are simplified and preliminary to more in-depth discussions on climate change that interested readers can pursue. And as in any scientific investigation, they must be accompanied by strong skepticism and a willingness to confront the facts as they are.

Must have reference!
Want to know a little more about hurricanes?Air pollution?Thunderstorms?Stull presents terrific synopses of many meteorological topics.He doesn't try to be the expert in every sub-specialty in the field; instead, he provides the basic material and encourages the reader to seek additional information from expert books and web sites.I'm currently taking a class in atmospheric transport and diffusion.Stull summarizes the course material and leads me to references I didn't know existed. I'm ordering this book as a reference now and as a starting point for future study.

Excellent all-encompassing book!
This is the most complete introductory-advanced book I have seen to date. It covers many pertinient subjects. Important meteorological concepts are explained in enough detail to satisfy even the more advanced users, but simple enough to give the beginner excellent insight. These concepts do not have to be presented in a difficult fashion to make the author appear intelligent - he makes a bold, simple statement by taking tough concepts and making them understandable to the masses! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A hammer!
R. Stull makes a comprehensive and profound review of the boundary layer meteorology in his book.I consider this book to be a most useful tool for any scientist concerned with the troposphere, for all environmentalengineers having to do with air quality, and for all micrometeorologists. Just like a hammer!One of the first to get for one's library.Itcontains the general descriptions of the usual subjects, thoroughly andwell explained.Then it also contains extensive descriptions of differentmodels used to make calculations. This is why I am willing to pay its...unfortunately not-very-low price. ... Read more

Book Description
This revised text presents a cogent explanation of the fundamentals of meteorology, and explains storm dynamics for weather-oriented meteorologists. It discusses climate dynamics and the implications posed for global change. The Fourth Edition features a CD-ROM with MATLAB® exercises and updated treatments of several key topics. Much of the material is based on a two-term course for seniors majoring in atmospheric sciences.

* Provides clear physical explanations of key dynamical principles
* Contains a wealth of illustrations to elucidate text and equations, plus end-of-chapter problems
* Holton is one of the leading authorities in contemporary meteorology, and well known for his clear writing style
* Instructor's Manual available to adopters

NEW IN THIS EDITION
* A CD-ROM with MATLAB® exercises and demonstrations
* Updated treatments on climate dynamics, tropical meteorology,middle atmosphere dynamics, and numerical prediction ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Extraordinarily good text
I have to say I'm not sure if texts on atmospheric dynamics get better than this.Physics books in general, in fact, rarely provide an understanding of phenomena that is so concise, intuitive, and yet mathematically robust.I highly recommend it for children, as a gift, and for pleasure reading.

I also very seriously recommend it as a graduate textbook.Five stars all the way.

feedback from rmd
it's a very analytic book; it's strongly related to anaysis. all the models are very well explaned; perhaps there is not a good relationship between models and pratical meteorology. phenomena are quite 'hidden' by equations, and only a good experienced physicist has the tools to extract the pratical approach deriving from model behaviours.
however it remains a 'must' for meteorologists.

Renato Medini

The most exellent textbook in dynamics of the atmopshere
This book, in my opinion, is the most valuable book on dynamical aspects of the atmosphere insofar, especially from pedagogical point of views. As a foreign student, I understand well Holton's writings. Simple but very concise sentences, no wordy explanations. The first 3 chapters provide you the basic equations used inmeteorology and their common approximations. The next 5 chapters, to me, are the most interesting chapters. They give you wide range of knowledge from boundary layer, synoptic scale phenomena, to instabilities. Equations are of great usefulness because THEY bring into the light physical contents of the dynamics of the atmosphere. To me, any analytical equation and its explicit solution provide us a more complete understanding than numerical models do (because you never know some unpredictable behaviour of numerical solutions). So, try to understand carefully the simplest cases that Holton selected. This gives you a lot of deeper understandings. Chapters 9 to 11 provide the dynamics of meso- to large-scale circulations. You will see why the Hadley circulation descends around 35N in very clear way. However, simple Poisson eqn with the argument of "positive forcing, negative solution" that is applied throughout the text should be paid especial attention because this conclusion is not always true. As a whole, the contents, explanations and derivations will be very well constructed if you see the main point of each section.
To get to the heart of this book, read and derive all the skips in Holton's derivations. The gaps are not too hard to fill out in math but require some thinking. DO ALL OF THE EXERCISES at the end by yourself and you will double your knowledge. For any math-related physical book, transparent derivations are the first thing you should figure out, physical explanations will follow subsequently. From my experience, people tend to skip any chapter what they thought they knew it already. If you apply this method here, you may be in trouble. Read carefully the first 5 chapters, understand approximations used in the each situation. Simply apply equations without judgments of their assumptions will take you into the nightmare.

I give this book 5 stars +. It is really classic....

you can't find an alternative.
when i was a student, i used to think, like many other reviewers, that the book is extremely dry. but now as a researcher in atmospheric-oceanic dynamics, i realise that the book is useful in explaining the most essential and elementary theories behind the dynamics one can encounter in meteorology or climate dynamics.

use the book as a reference and revision of elementary concepts. if you encounter a process you need to understand in your research, this is the book which will tell you the basics. then you go on and learn more from journal articles and your own research.

this new edition of the book, especially with the matlab models, makes studying with it more fun because you can visualise the dynamics and play with the m-files yourself.

An Underrated Text
This book, often simply referred to as "Holton", has been roundly cursed by undergraduates since it was first published. I know, because I was one of them.However, as the years went by, and as the number of classes requiring Holton as a text went by, I realized two things.First, that this book was not meant to hold your hand through all the derivations.It requires a competent instructor who can use Holton as a detailed companion to rigorous coursework.This book is NOT for the average person who wishes to study alone.The second thing is that this book was written to fill a gap.There were no similar atmospheric dynamics texts.As a consequence, it must cover a large amount of material in a rather small, college textbook-sized space.It does this well.Yes, the author's writing style is dry to the extreme, and yes, physical explanations are often lacking.However, if you have access to a competent professor, neither of these are problems.One final thought... as we call the book simply "Holton" remember that Frankenstein's monster is often called simply "Frankenstein", but we will leave comparisons to the reader - and to the author! ... Read more

Book Description
An entirely new way for students to observe, analyze, and understand meteorology, - Steven A. Ackerman and John A. Knox's METEOROLOGY: UNDERSTANDING THE ATMOSPHERE is scientific, topical, and scholarly. The authors use vivid photographs and compelling real-life stories to present the subject of weather as it directly affects your students. METEOROLOGY generates genuine enthusiasm for the subject by using conceptual models and engaging narrative to truly make weather phenomena come alive.METEOROLOGY emphasizes how we observe the atmosphere and then uses those observations to explain atmospheric phenomena. New "Observational Questions" further extend this emphasis by asking students to analyze photographs, data, or their own experiences. By learning how to interpret scientific observations of the atmosphere, students can deepen their understanding of the subject.The second edition offers complete integration with MeteorologyNow™, the first assessment-driven and student-centered online learning solution created specifically for this course. MeteorologyNow™ uses a series of chapter-specific diagnostic tests to build a personalized learning plan for each student, allowing students to focus their study time on specific areas of weaknesses. Each personalized learning plan directs students to specific text sections as well as to a set of over three dozen Java applets designed to augment their understanding. These acclaimed applets, designed by Tom Whittaker and co-author Steven Ackerman, are divided into two types, "Observational Learning" applets deal with interpreting satellite imagery and "Atmospheric Explorations" extend the book's treatment of key topics, such as weather map analysis and numerical weather models. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Book applets nominated for Pixie Awards
The applets available in association with this book (The Why Files Interactives) have been nominated for excellence in website design that incorporates motion.See the press release below:

3rd Annual Pixie Nominations Honor Online Films and Animations

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 17, 2004 -- On the heels of an earlier than usual Oscars, the Directors Board of Broadband Motion Pixure Arts and Technologies today released nominees for its 3rd Annual Pixie Awards, which honor achievement in online and broadband motion picture production.

Formally known as the Directors Board Awards for Achievement in Broadband Motion Pixure Production, the Pixie Awards are widely considered the top award -- if not the only award -- in a burgeoning area of artistic endeavor that includes animation, film, and web site design.

"It's an enormous honor to be nominated by the Pixie Awards in one category, but to be nominated in two categories is simply over the top!" said Looney Bin Animation Studios creative director Stan Holden upon hearing the good news about his animated feature Rebel Without a Claus.

"It's the equivalent of being nominated for an Oscar!" Holden added from his offices in Orange County, Calif.

The Pixie Awards include categories for Best Web Design that Incorporates Motion and Best Original Score for an i-Feature -- a film that resides entirely on the Internet.

...

The nominees for the 3rd Annual Pixie Awards are:
(edited for appropriate category)

Best Web Design that Incorporates Motion

SantaFeHealingArt --
Anand Nunnally, Jill Schwarz, Jason Goodyear, Clarence Cline, Lucinda Dykes, and Michael Tincher, Designers

Jibjab -- Evan Spiridellis, Mike Jaffe and Gregg Spiridellis, Designers

***The Why Files Interactives -- Sue Medaris, Tom Whittaker and Steve Ackerman, Designers

Award-winning book
This book has won a Talby Award from the Society of Academic Authors.Please see release below.

Meteorologists' book wins visuals award
WINONA, Minn., March 24, 2003 -- A college meteorology textbook by Steve Ackerman and John Knox won a William Henry Fox Talbot Prize for excellence in visuals from the Sociey of Academic Authors. The book, Meteorology: Understanding the Atmosphere, published by Brooks/Cole under the editorshop of Keith Dodson, was praised by one member of the SA2 panel of judges as an "exceptional job pulling together relevant data to be presented in original graphic formats." Said other judges: "The text is visually sophisticated, truly interesting, and up-to-date, with always apt and sometimes ravishing images, figurative models, and tables used to support its thoughtful pedagogy." "This book has some of the most pretty and apt graphics that I have ever seen in a textbook.""Quite simply, the production quality is superb." "Visuals are integral and are used generously." Learning of the award, Knox said: "I'm excited to see that the judges appreciated our efforts so thoroughly -- especially since Steve and I are both first-time authors. Knox is a research scientist and lecturer at the University of Georgia. Ackerman is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The announcement in the fourth in a series on the 2003 Talbies. ... Read more

Book Description

Using everyday, easy-to-grasp examples to reinforce basic concepts, this highly regarded handbook remains the standard introduction to meteorology and the atmosphere – components, problems, and applications. Includes the most up-to-date coverage of topics such as: ozone depletion; the ultraviolet index; temperature; dew point temperature and orographic effects; wildfires and weather; thunderstorms and lightning; the record-breaking Florida hurricane season; effects of air pollution, and more. Incorporates top-quality visuals, including new satellite images and illustrations by the award-winning Dennis Tasa, to demonstrate the highly visual nature of meteorology. Uses a largely non-technical writing style to help readers grasp important concepts. For those interested in learning more about meteorology.

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Introductory Meteorology Resource
This text is an excellent resource for an Introductory Meteorology course.Each chapter and topic built upon learning from the previous chapters and topics.This text not only covered detailed information about all meteorological topics, but also contained current event information from the past decade, news clippings, and common questions that may confuse students.The animations and extras included on the additional CD provided an added resource for further learning.

Very Good
The book has an extraordinary content to learn about the atmosphere. I advisebuy it, the CD is very good.

Too Newsy
The students in my class and I thought that this textbook was too newsy.it had WAY too much information for an Intro to Meteorology class.The questions at the end of the chapters were hard also because they were almost impossible to solve.The test bank that my teacher used was so hard.The wording was so touchy that the answers could have gone either way for some questions.My teacher even took a test and agreed that the questions were not clear and that multiple answers could be correct.I would recommend this book to a higher level class, but not an intro class if you want tons of information and a challenge on solving problems. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
For instructors wanting all the detail of METEOROLOGY TODAY, but that don't have time to cover all of the chapters, the new "core version" includes only the first sixteen chapters of the text, eliminating the chapters on air pollution, global climate, and light and atmospheric optics. If there is a better organization to more perfectly suit your course, the text can be further customized using TextChoice, the Thomson Custom Solution. Contact your local Thomson representative to learn more. ... Read more

Book Description
This reader-friendly book offers current and comprehensive information about the atmosphere—its components, problems, and applications. It features everyday examples to help the reader understand weather and climate, with incredible photographs, satellite images, and line art.Broad in scope and clearly and concisely written, this book features such topics as temperature, moisture and atmospheric stability, condensation and precipitation, air pressure and winds, circulation, air masses, weather patterns, thunderstorms and tornadoes, hurricanes, air pollution, world climates, and optical phenomena.For readers interested in a book that discusses up-to-date weather and climate issues that affect the world's people everyday; can also be utilized as a reference text for those in the field of meteorology and other earth sciences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

User Friendly TextBook
Clear, easy to understand.Dvd and online bonus. And, I got an A in the class! ... Read more

Book Description
This user-friendly book makes a current and comprehensive introduction to the atmosphere—its components, problems, and applications. It contains easy-to-understand and everyday examples that reinforce basic concepts and related science principles.Chapter topics include moisture and atmospheric stability; forms of condensation and precipitation; air pressure and winds; weather patterns; thunderstorms and tornadoes; hurricanes; air pollution; and global climate change.For weather watchers who want to know why. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Don't buy it unless you have to!!!
As a college student I was forced to buy the textbook per my professor's curriculum and request. He often cited inaccuracies claiming he often had called the publisher to complain. The answers to the review questions (at the end of the chapters) were very challenging to find within the chapter. It's rough reading (I love to read and read often.) Unless you are required to buy the book, DON'T! I hope this helps.

The best intro to meteorology out there
If you are looking for a nice intro to weather or even a nice thorough review then this would be the book for you. Clearly defined and many illustrations available to help you grasp the info without reading it over several times.

An excellent introductory weather text.
Lutgens and Tarbuck made this a very readable text by writing in a stratightforward manner and by focusing on fundamental principles. The typical non-science major undergrad or general reader should be able to grasp the important concepts, while the more scientifically literate readers will find plenty of material to wrap their minds around. For example, much of the quantitative stuff is presented in separate boxes, for those who want to go beyond the basics as presented in the text. The illustrations by Dennis Tasa are, of course, excellent, as are most of the photos. I used this text for a weather and climate class I taught and would use it again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not good.
The questions in the workbook simply aren't helpful.And, a lot of times, they give the WRONG answer in the key!

The only reason why I gave this two stars is because the chapter summaries are okay.

Ok IF you are looking for the workbook, not the textbook
...The book description still doesn't tell you it is only a workbook.They need to be more descriptive. ... Read more

Book Description
"The history of modern meteorology has been shaped by a few brilliant individuals, whose enormous contributions set conditions for permanent progress. Robert Marc Friedman's book is a serious and substantial contribution to the documentation of this history." --American Meteorological Society

"In this very thoughtful and extremely well-researched and well-written [book] Robert Marc Friedman relates the story of Vilhelm Bjerknes's switch to geophysical studies and his subsequent development of scientific study of the weather into a persuasive new professional discipline." --Isis ... Read more

Book Description
Ahren's METEOROLOGY TODAY is the # 1 text in the market! This text presents the fundamental concepts of meteorology in the context of everyday weather observations.This is a perfect blend of theory and application in meteorology. The book features a traditional yet flexible organization, moving from atmospheric elements to air movement to severe weather, then finally global and climate change.Ahren's successfully excites the student reader by teaching them to actively observe the weather.The organization contains enough detail to provide a higher level student with the detail he/she needs, as well as an accessible writing style for the weaker student. This text contains extensive new features that significantly address the market needs of accuracy, currency, earlier presentation of mapping and forecasting, with a greatly enhanced technology package. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It is a easy learning book !
This is a really good book. It presents all the idea so clear with many graphs and figures. That make you feel comfortable to keep on reading.Also the contents are not so hard. It is a really good book for the beginner who want to know more about meteorology. ... Read more

Book Description

Wondering about weather? Learn Mother Nature's secrets

Customer Reviews (1)

A Washout
The purpose of this book is to demystify weather.But while the book begins with a promising use of physical equations, these serve only to pad the book with test questions that are not further applied in the text to demystify (i.e., explain in causal terms) why things happen in the atmosphere.For example, there is no explanation of the Coriolis effect, and thus the wind patterns presented early on make no sense at all.There is a great deal of talk about what to do in the event of a thunderstorm, a hurricane, a tornado, and so on, but this information is readily available from any disaster center and elsewhere on the web.I came away from this book more mystified than when I opened it.A tempestuous disappointment. ... Read more