Product Description
Possibly no comparable area on earth displays as many varieties of weather simultaneously as the San Francisco Bay Region. Harold Gilliam explains the atmospheric forces and geologic formations that come together in this region's unique confluence of wind, river, ocean, bay, and hills. The fully revised and updated edition of this best-selling book incorporates the latest scientific information--much of it gathered from satellite technology--that has greatly improved our understanding of the weather in the years since the book was first published. Writing in a delightfully engaging style, Gilliam provides the tools necessary for understanding the grand show of nature that takes place around the San Francisco Bay--from Napa Valley in the north to San Jose in the south.
Using nontechnical language to define weather terms and the general principles needed to understand weather patterns, Gilliam explains such phenomena as the jet stream, the famous summer fog that pours over the Golden Gate Bridge, and the often dangerous winter tule fog. This edition also includes a discussion of the planetary influences that may cause long-term changes in the local climate: Gilliam explains the "greenhouse effect" and what global warming could mean for the San Francisco Bay Area, looks at the local effects of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, and considers the thinning of the ozone layer.
This fascinating book, enhanced with informative maps, diagrams, and color illustrations, is liberally sprinkled with references to Bay Area neighborhoods and geographic features, giving the book a lively sense of local color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Interesting
Good book if you are interested in the physics of weather at a micro and macro level in the bay area.

The mystery of weather.
I have beenn using this book for yeaars--I began with the first edition, and now am enjoying the second.It is brief; to the point.And as a native of S.F., I can attest to its accuracy.
The weather near the sea is almost always unpredictable,but Gilliam gives all the components, all the causes, and makes it possible to understand--if not predict--our weather.

The only problem I find is that the book is too short.

Good explanations in a few pages
This short book provides a very understandable explanation of how Bay Area weather is formed by topography, winds, and the ocean.He devotes sections to the four seasons, in which he tells how the fog is formed, where storms come from, and why there is so much variation within Bay Area microclimates.He also has a chapter on clouds, and a concluding chapter on climate change.I never knew much about weather (besides what I understood from forecasts on TV: sunny, partly cloudy, rain, etc.), but now I appreciate more the unique climates of the SF Bay region.

Concise, easy-to-understand explanations of Bay Area weather
Ever wonder why it's SO COLD at Candlestick Park? Ever wonder why there's so much summer fog, and why it burns off in by Noon?Ever wonder why it can be 45 in San Francisco and 100 in San Jose?Harold Gilliam's conciselittle book will tell you!

His explanations of the cyclic weatherpatterns of the Bay Area, and the interactions between ocean-born eventsand the coastal, Bay and mountain geographies are easy to understand.Evenmore enticingly, they're easy to observe.

A great read for anyone wholives in (or even visits) the Bay Area.

A unique explanation of the weather of the Bay Area
With great love and with a scientist'sobjectivity Mr. Gilliam goes thruogh a year's cycle of the unique passage of fog, rain, warmth, and haunting beauty of the changing seasons. But he is no mere puff writer.He tells us why, and where, these events begin. Anyone who is familiar with the books by George R. Stewart on the history and climate of Northern California, should not miss this. ... Read more

Product Description
Some of the most popular selections from the formidable Eyewitness backlist are now available with a clip-art CD included-with no increase in price! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

i n f o r m a t i v ew i t hp i c t u r e s
i n f o r m a t i v ew i t hp i c t u r e s

Good educational book for reference
I had intended to buy the DK Eye Wonder Weather which I had checked out and liked at the library, but accidentally bought this DK Eyewitness book instead. I don't need the clip art CD or poster attached in the book, but some people like that kind of thing, which is probably why the CD and poster are included with the book. Most dissappointing: some of the pictures of clouds and landscapes, for example, are too grainy and poor quality compared to similar pictures in Eye Wonder. However, the pictures of weather instruments and some drawings are quite good quality. I only wish the entire book had crisp, clear, high-quality pictures. The book cover seems waterproof and durable; no jacket. Binding seems durable, but I have not had the book long enough to test its durability. The glossary and index in the back are useful. I love the DK books, and this Weather book is one reading children can reference again and again, and non-readers can enjoy for the colorful pictures.

Eyewitness Books Explore Weather
"Weather" is a particularly appropriate book to review now, as one hurricane/tropical storm after another seems to roil across the Atlantic. The first section is entitled "The restless air," and author Brian Cosgrove says: ". . .the very lowest level [of the atmosphere]. . .is forever on the move, boiling and bubbling in the sun's heat like a vast kettle on a fire."

The subjects covered are the usual wide range of matters, typical of these DK publications, especially designed for younger readers. Topics explored include forecasting the weather, the power of the sun, frost and ice, clouds--from birth on, thunder and lightning, and wind.

There is, too, weather is examined in different contexts--mountains, the sea, the plains. And if a kid gets interested in the weather, the last section shows how one can put together a home weather station.This would be a wonderful way for younger readers to actually study weather and learn in the process.

So, yes, another successful Eyewitness Book.

WEATHER
THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES DK BOOKS I EVER READ
EVERY PAGE OF THIS WAS VERY VERY GREAT.I'M INTERESTED IN
WEATHER TOO

[...]

A good reference book for young readers
A book about weather everything from the history of meteorology to the formation of hurricanes. There is a lot of information in each page, information about different equipment used to track and measure theweather. Photographs and graphics are used to describe the weather and howto track it. In the back of the book there are pages devoted to making ahome weather station to track and record the weather. The book isindexed in the back for easy access to information. It makes the book agood choice to have for easy reference or a young student's weatherproject. The material is not presented in a boring matter. Some youngerstudents may find too much information to understand at the first reading. ... Read more

Product Description
The fourth edition of Understanding Weather and Climate  has been thoroughly updated throughout.  Every part of the text has been examined and updated to ensure currency and clarity.Integrating the classic textbook model with emerging areas of instructional technology, this book focuses on explaining, rather than describing, the processes that produce Earth's weather and climate. The authors encourage a non-mathematical understanding of physical principles as a vehicle for learning about atmospheric processes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Lab Manual - Understanding Weather & Climate (4th Edition)
I bought this manual to go with a text, and it does, right in order.The illustrations are great and add to the knowledge given in the text.

Good text book, bit too pricey
I liked this book alot when I was in climatology. It isn't longwinded and is explained in plain english. It's Good as a source book, but goes into great detail (even too much) in some sections and not enough in other parts.

Overall, it's a bit too expensive if you aren't using this for a course. Buy it used if you can. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A nice little weather guide that you can carry with you
It is always nice to know when a storm is brewing.This is essential when travelling the backcountry. ... Read more

Product Description
From violent hurricanes and electric storms to baking sunshine and torrential rain, discover the power and beauty of the weather.

Offering a unique introduction to nature through powerful visuals, the Eye Wonder reference series was developed for children ready for first books about the natural world. Full-color photography is paired with clearly written text to build a foundation for advanced exploration, helping show children a stunning new view of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Book
Like all Eyewhitness books, this one is full of information and great photos. We have a large collection of these books and look forward to enjoying them for years to come.

My 8 month boy loves this book!
Teaching children to love books is very important, and this book is a great tool for this. My 8 month old boy loves this book & others in the same collection. He's a very active child, with a short concentration span, but will sit quite still to look at this book, & lets out little squeaks of happiness. He recognizes & opens the little flaps, and even has some favorite flaps, that are get quite worn out. We don't let him watch TV, so the book doesn't have to compete with that. Also I think the book is nicely put together, and the photographs in the compositions are of a superior quality.

Good for a weather unit study
This book is a good starting point to teach weather to children, it covers all aspects of weather.It is intended for the elementary level but the great photos make this book appealing to younger kids. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for pilots who want to improve their flight weather forecasting skills, this manual provides an in-depth discussion of the basic theory and logic of aviation weathercasting and an analysis of 46 instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flights made in a light airplane in all seasons. Each flight episode is illustrated with pre-takeoff upper-level and surface weather maps and a small-scale chart, which clearly traces the progress of the flight and the actual in-flight weather conditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good Book, Especially for Those on East Coast
A great book that explains weather and how to fly in it very well.It should be noted, however, that it targets East Coast and Mid-West weather patterns, which are quite a bit different than that for the West Coast where I live. Still, it is a worth while read for any pilot.

Weatherwise
Richard has an accessible way of writing and this book is easy to read (but takes a while to digest!).Some information is tedious and requires more than "Weather Channel" knowledge, but may be supplemented by many of the free books at www.faa.org.I recommend it to all my flight students, as weather knowledge is usually more deficient than we all would like!

Another fine text from RC
I've always been a Richard Collins fan -- even when I was 11 and bought "Flying" magazine off the drug store rack and pored over every article -- understanding maybe 15%.

The percentage is higher now, but I still need to read and re-read to fully comprehend all the material presented.

The chapter on Lows is worth the price of this book. Every IFR and VFR pilot should buy and read this book. If you find you don't understand half of what Dick is talking about, it's time to go back to the basic Aviation Weather texts and get up to speed. Nothing is more critical to GA flying safety than the PIC's complete understanding of the Weather picture before launch and during flight.

Get a briefing and fly IFR with more confidence
This is one of the best books that I've come across.Richard L. Collins does a great job of covering the basics of weather and what is really going on in order to build on real useful knowledge.Once he completes that, Richard takes you on 40+ actual flights where he talks about the briefing that he got, what the weather is really like and what the NOOA maps showed after the flight (since they always look at the past).

You learn more than just about weather.You learn about how to work with FSS, what to ask, and why forecasts are sometimes so different than actual when they shouldn't be.After reading this, I felt a lot more confident about my IFR weather planning and flying and look at the weather with a whole new mind set.

......2
-- C-- ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (24)

Very memorable characters dealing with deplorable ecological destruction
This 2007 novel is set in rural West Virginia, an area which has been devastated by the coal mining industry.It has also shattered the lives of the people who live there.We meet some of these people in this book, identify with them and cringe in disgust as we read about how their lives are torn apart because of the greediness of the mine owners.This story is told through the eyes a family whose world I will never forget.These are poor people, living just above the poverty line.They cope with the social problems of early motherhood, unemployment and family disintegration as well as the physical destruction of their environment.

The story starts in the 1980s when a young woman named Lace becomes pregnant.Eventually she marries the young man she loves and they have three more children.He works in the mine and in spite of their hard life the natural world around them sustains them.Some of the descriptions of the mountain, its beauty and the plants and animals that bring joy to the family contributed to my understanding of the role their beloved mountain plays in their lives. The mountain had always been mined for coal but things have changed and the new kind of mining is actually blasting away the mountaintop.This creates deplorable ecological destruction.

This story brings the human side of the equation to light.We meet the family's 15-year old daughter who is attracted to one of the young "scab" mine workers who are brought in from out of state to work the mine.We meet her rambunctious 11-year old brother who risks his life over and over again in a wide variety of show-off stunts on the disintegrating mountain.We meet her 12-year-old brother who tends to be quiet and shy and who works basically as a servant to an elderly woman neighbor who has vivid memories of a horrible flood.Her son, now grown, was caught in that flood and almost died and his experience of this incident is told through his eyes in excruciating detail.The stresses and strains on the lives of all of these people lead to a disruption of the community and many have to leave the homes they love. There is much sadness but there is also a ray of hope as the people start to organize.

I was definitely moved by this story, specifically because it opened my eyes to a world I knew about but never really understood.Also, the characters were so real that I felt that I knew them.Hopefully, this book will be widely read, especially by those who have no idea of the amount of destruction this kind of mining is doing to our environment.

as usual....
As usual Ann, your writing leaves me moved and removed from this existence in Japan.

You took me back to where I belonged, and where I still long for.

Thank you.

Randy

Ann Pancake and Lee Smith
Being a fairly recent transplant into the Appalachia region of southwest Virginia, I've had over ten years to observe and befriend people long-rooted in Appalachia.Ann Pancake's novel, Strange As This Weather Has Been, is on par with Lee Smith's, Fair and Tender Ladies.Both regional writers have captured the culture of Appalachia in their novels, and Ann Pancake may well be our next Lee Smith.If you are not familiar with Lee Smith's work, she is one of the best regional writers of our life and times.

Can't keep these Characters out of my thoughts
I picked up this book after reading "Something's Rising," a non-fiction book of essays around mountaintop removal mining.I worried that going into it after looking through the perspective of so many activists would make me see the novel through that narrow lens, or only seeing the author's political ax to grind.
Ann Pancake does an excellent job of putting you in the middle of the character's emotional struggles, and my worries very soon melted away as I found myself enthralled.I finished the book as quick as could, and now that I've spent that time inside the mind of Lace, Bant, Corey, etc., their voices continue to haunt my thoughts. This is not just a great issue book, this is a truly great novel.

Vivid Depiction of the Struggles of Rural West Viriginia Life
This is one of the best novels I've ever read. Very developed and interesting characters, a setting that comes alive in sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feels, and a sense of tension that permeates the novel. While not plot-oriented, the action is important, and while I didn't necessarily find myself needing to know what happened next, I wanted to find out what was going on with the characters next.

The characters are the strongest part of this book. They all have strong voices, even the minor characters, and are weird and unique without being ridiculous or too far outside the kinds of people you know or can imagine knowing.

The format is a series of chapters that alternate POV, each chapter told through the lens of a different character (some in first person, others in third). This reminds me of Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury," but I don't know that there a lot of other similarities. Perhaps both exhibit experimentation while still being accessible. Perhaps both can be said to depict the decline of a family--though they are two very different kinds of families.

The other book I think of, because of its focus on multiple characters in the same setting, is Anderson's Winesburg, OH, though again the similarity is probably more superficial. Setting is important to both, so that the place is a character in its own right. Setting is the second strongest part of this book, the way it is described so vividly, and becomes such a huge part of the characters' psyches (for good or for bad).

I can't think of a whole lot more to say, other than that this is a work of immense complexity and dark beauty that makes me re-evaluate my political, personal, and literary assumptions. ... Read more

Product Description
"There are about 1,800 thunderstorms in progress over the earth's surface at any given time, and lightning strikes about 100 times each second ." --from Weather

Weather: The Ultimate Book of Meteorological Eventsis a compilation of some of the most spectacular weather photography and writing in the world. Adapted from over 20 years of material from the bestselling Weather Guide calendar, this comprehensive volume combines dozens of essays from more than 20 meteorology and climate change experts. And, in order to fully appreciate the weather's majestic beauty, more than 100 photographers have contributed their awe-inspiring images, expertly portraying some of the most dramatic weather events of the past two decades.

Includes:

* U.S. and international monthly climactic data charts

* 365 days of weather trivia

* Significant events in meteorological history ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good calendar
It's not a bad calendar at all, especially for the price; However, it's just another pretender to the original weather calendar published by Accord Publishing Co.

Another Side of Weather
This was a very comprehensive book about all types of weather, with great pictures and good, simple explanations.If you are more than just a casual watcher of the The Weather Channel - you'll want this book.Good price from Amazon compared to the brick and mortar places.

Beautiful photography
I purchased this as a gift for my son,who loves to study and photograph severe weather. Although it is hard to get many words from a teenager, when he opened it,the response was "cool" and he sat for over an hour pouring through it. Translation: he loved it! I would recommend this gift/coffee table quality book for anyone who is interested in weather phenomenon or just enjoys beautiful, unique photographs.

Wonderful Book
This book was a birthday gift for my boss...he flipped when he opened the present.Loved it and the item was exactly as described. ... Read more

Product Description
The ultimate weather book for the weather enthusiast or anyoneinterested in the odditiesandextremes of nature.Is the climate really becoming more extreme as aresult of climate change? We often hear on thenews that the day was the hottest, coldest,wettest, or snowiest on record. Recent evidencesuggests that aspects of the climate are indeedbecoming more extreme. Will the extraordinaryhurricane season of 2005 and the record heatwaves of 2006 become more common? The facts arein this book, including a detailed analysis ofextreme weather trends in the United Statesgoing back to the nineteenth century.Alsoincluded are historical examples of some of themore bizarre weather events observed: heatbursts, electrified dust storms, snow rollers,pink snowstorms, luminous tornadoes, falls offish and toads, ball lighting, super bolts, andother strange meteorological events. 110 color photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Full of surprises
"Extreme Weather" is a chatty and amusing compilation of the hottest, coldest, wettest, driest, stormiest, foggiest places in the United States, with references to the rest of the world.

But it turns out that the United States has more extreme weather than any other country. Author Christopher Burt says it is because America is big enough to encompass both cold northern air and warm southern air, without the east-west mountains that Eurasia has to keep them apart. Most American extreme weather champions are west of the Mississippi, with another concentration around the Gulf of Mexico.

Burt has the character to write about weather without reference to climate alarmism, a rare feat these days. He states, correctly, that even if the globe were warming, we would still get new records every year at both ends: cold and hot, warm and dry.

Although he takes pains to isolate his weather enthusiasm from climate change controversy, that doesn't mean the reader cannot draw his own conclusions. Most amusing is the list of F5 tornadoes.

We have been promised, repeatedly, that emitting carbon dioxide will result in more and more violent storms. The worst tornadoes, called F5 (more recently EF5) occur only in the United States, thanks to our curious topography. Burt has a list by decades.

From 1900-1909, there were 4. In the following decades, the totals were 5, 6, 5, 6, 13, 15, 13. Well, well, well, this is looking quite promising for the Chicken Littles, nearly three times as many in the second half the 20th century as in the first half.

Oops! Only 3 in the decade of the '80s. Then 10 in the '90s. But, oops again, we have concluded the Oughties with only 2. That is, during the past 3 decades, including two that are allegedly the warmest in 1,000 years, the number of F5s is the same as during the first 3 decades of the 20th century.

The record series are well organized, and it is easy to see that extreme weather events are randomly distributed. You cannot use them to detect climate change. Not on the scale of a couple of centuries, anyway.

Burt takes a sensible approach by simply accepting the local records as observed at the time, without trying to adjust or normalize them. Some may have been less precise than others, but we just have to live with that.

All in all, a balanced and humane book, illustrated with well-chosen pictures and well-organized maps, charts and graphs.

There have been two editions so far 2004 and 2007, and there is a Website, [...]that updates with new record-breaking events.

The first edition, 2004, included this prediction: "Although dikes protect the city (of New Orleans) from the waters of nearby Lake Ponchartrain, these would almost certainly be overwhelmed by a Category 4 or 5 storm surge. Should this occur, much of downtown New Orleans, including the French Quarter could be swamped under 20 feet of water."

The next year was Katrina, only Cat 3 and it wasn't storm surge as much as bureaucracy that did in the city, but Burt looks like a prophet.

I was surprised to learn than the maximum temperature ever recorded in Florida is lower (by a degree or two) than the maximum temperatures in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The reason seems to be the moderating effect of the ocean, but still, southern Florida is a lot farther south than Tennessee. I'd have thought that at least once in a while being a thousand miles south would have trumped the cooling effect of the ocean.

Very interesting weather book, especially for those who like record breakers....
I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought this book. I teach meteorology at a couple of universities, and I'm always wanting to update my knowledge in this area. This is basically a 'record' book...it takes the extremes of weathers around the world. The coldest spot, the windiest place, etc. The book has more lists of the 'ten most...' places. Though I found it interesting, it really wasn't the type of book that I can use in my classroom to explain 'why', which is usually what I want in weather books. I also like historical references and books on weather happenings historically, and this didn't fit the bill for me.

My favorite parts of the book were the pictures which were glorious and the historical records. I also like the older photos and the information that went with them. I would have liked to see more of those in the book.

For people who like books like The Guiness Records, and things like that, this book is right up your alley.

Extreme Weather
I bought this book for my son-in-law for Christmas. He loves books,videos, and anything to do with the weather.He thought it was an excellent book.

if you think this sort of book sounds interesting, definitely get this
For some reason not everyone finds facts and narratives on outlandish weather interesting.If you do, however, this book is the pinnacle.Burt could have made it 8 times longer and I would have never gotten bored.Full of fantastical information about places you'll never go and weather you'll never see - I eat that stuff up.If you are at all interested in anything weather related, you'll be hooked on this book.

An excellent choice not just for science libraries
Is the climate really changing radically? To answer this a record of past weather extremes and norms needs to be reviewed, and there's no better place to do this than with Extreme Weather: A Guide and Record Book. Here are U.S. weather trends going back to the 19th century in a revised, updated guide which includes historical examples of strange weather. Divided into chapters by type of weather - strange snowstorms, thunderstorms and hail, etc. - each chapter pairs color photos and illustrations with maps, lively overviews, and more. An excellent choice not just for science libraries, but for any general interest lending library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description

Oil is king of East Texas during the darkest years of the Great Depression. The Stoddard girls—responsible Mayme, whip-smart tomboy Jeanine, and bookish Bea—know no life but an itinerant one, trailing their father from town to town as he searches for work on the pipelines and derricks. But in a year of devastating drought and dust storms, the family's fortunes sink further than they ever anticipated when a questionable "accident" leaves the girls and their mother, Elizabeth, alone to confront the cruelest hardships of these hardest of times.

Customer Reviews (21)

Author needs a better editor
Paulette Jiles needed a better editor before this book rolled off the press!

My interest in the story was disrupted by what I thought were obvious mistakes in the author's attempt to set time and place. The story is set during the 1930's during the Great Depression, so it was a bit jarring when Ross, one of the main characters, comments that his son should never have been allowed to see Walt Disney's "Bambi" - a movie that wasn't released until 1942.

The expression "come up to see my etchings" is also used; but, like much of the dialogue, it doesn't ring true.The expression was first used in print in 1934, much too early to be considered part of the common vernacular in 1938.

Disappointed
After I received the book, I received an email telling me the book was available for 19 cents and I paid 60 cents.

A few loose ends...
In general I liked the story, but I think the description of the book is a little misleading.

From reading the description, I believed there would have been more about Jack's death, but once it happened, it was only referred to in passing on a few occasions.A loose end that was never really dealt with by the author.Also, I expected more to be written about Smoky Joe and horse racing in general than there actually was.

The characters were interesting, although some were a bit odd and I'm quite sure why some of them were written into the story, but Jeanine is a great heroine and I enjoyed her story.

A nice read but could have been better.

No-Frills Texas Heroine's Story Told Like Poetry
San Antonio writer Paulette Jiles is a poet first, and it shows in her imagery and in the cadence of her sentences. They have an almost musical lilt: "A pouring wave of sheep fled down a hillside, answering some unheard call, and the dense bank of clouds to the northeast told of a windstorm to come."

"Stormy Weather" is the second novel for Jiles, after her critically acclaimed Civil War novel, "Enemy Woman." This one is a quieter novel, more tuned in to the brutal dust bowl landscape of West Texas, and to the hungry, threadbare people living through the Great Depression. They wear wedding gowns made from old draperies, and repair their roofs with crushed tin cans instead of shingles.

The story is built around Jeanine Stoddard, a strong, tomboyish young woman, who almost single-handedly carries her family through the hardest years. Jeanine is the middle daughter, beloved and trusted by her no-account father, Jack Stoddard. In the opening chapters Jeanine is a mere 9-year-old girl, but already she's driving her drunken father home from a night of hell-raising and womanizing. Jiles makes no missteps here, bringing Jeanine and the whole Stoddard clan to life along with Texas in the 1930s.

Even with World War II looming in Europe, wildcat oil strikes happen just often enough to keep the population believing in better times. The oil boom brings tragedy to the Stoddard family when Jack is killed by "sour gas," but later on the boom redeems itself when Mrs. Stoddard invests their hard-earned money in an old, dry well that a new driller reworks. The description of that well coming in are some of the best in the book. I was rattled by the earth-shaking blow-out just as if I were there, watching in awe with the otheres as the oil geysered into the blue West Texas sky.

While reading this book, I was reminded time and again of a personal favorite of mine, George Sessions Perry's "Hold Autumn In Your Hand." There are similarities beyond just the time period: problems on the land, risky ventures, a no-frills love story, and the unyielding optimism of the characters. If I were a high school teacher assigning Texas novels to my students, "Stormy Weather" would rank right at the top of the list. It's a sound, earthy novel with a soul as sweet as sugared peaches.

Please do your research.
While my husband read and enjoyed Stormy Weather by Paulette Jiles, I have to admit that I only read a chapter or two.I was turned off by the mispelling of McAlester, Oklahoma on the first page, and again on page 6.She spelled it "McAllister."Most other place names seem to be spelled correctly.I'm reasonably sure she referred to the actual town and not a made-up place, so why not be sure it's spelled correctly?
... Read more

Product Description
Encyclopedia of Weather features:
• Spectacular color photographs, detailed diagrams, beautiful graphics, and maps
• Easy-to-understand text that is packed with enough detail for scientists yet accessible in classrooms from the junior high school level (and up)
• The most up-to-date information based on the most recent scientific findings
• Succinct explanations of climate change, the enhanced greenhouse effect, global warming, and ozone depletion
• "Fact files" that put information at readers' fingertips
This beautiful, comprehensive, and up-to-date volume covers in amazing depth all aspects of the world's weather. Liberally illustrated with more than 2,000 color photographs, supplemental maps, diagrams, and other images, The Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate Change takes the reader beyond simple definitions to explore where weather comes from and the roles played by oceans and water cycles, and explains such related phenomena as the shaping of landforms, the creation of biological provinces, and the lasting ramifications of climate change. It also discusses how humans have survived and adapted in extreme climates like deserts, jungles, and icy regions. Each of the book's six sections is written and vetted by a different expert. "Engine" discusses what weather is, the solar powerhouse that supplies it, and Earth's atmospheric systems and seasons. "Action" delves into the dynamics of various weather forms. "Extremes" covers blizzards, heat waves, wildfires, and more. "Watching" tracks how weather is measured, mapped, monitored, and forecast. "Climate" delineates the continental climate zones and describes the plant, animal, and human adaptations for each. "Change" considers the history of climate change--ice ages, dinosaur extinction, melting glaciers, human impact, and more--and what we can expect in the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent reference and great for the coffee table too!
Honestly, I haven't found weather/atmospheric science books very interesting - but this is a great book! The authors do an excellent job covering a huge variety of topics related to climate and weather while providing stunning and detailed visual models so that non-scientists (like myself) can actually understand what they are talking about!I highly recommend this book and wish that Amazon would give more peeks of the inside pages.The price is also incredible.This is a hardbound high quality book that I would usually expect to pay at least $150 for - no kidding. ... Read more

Product Description
Weather Predicting Simplified is the first book that shows the reader, with many sample satellite photos and weather maps, how to predict the weather easily and accurately - without having to wait for hours for NOAA updates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Perfectly done and thank you!
This book is in perfect condition and I'm happy to have it.It was recommended to me by and experienced Weather Course teacher.

Fine book but you need more to understand weather systems
This is a well-written book but the reader needs a basic weather textbook or general weather book to get the most of Capt. Carr's book.

Great Book, NOT a Substitute for the Five Day Course

This is one of four weather books I recommend, the other three are hot-linked below.It is a truly great book with both white space and color images, easy to read font, and a sensible easy to understand roadmap for integrating satellite imagery, upper air (500 milibar) and surface forecasts and sea state charts.

After I finished the five day course in Advanced Meterology, I created a short guide for myself that I could share with others, and this book was very helpful as a reference to complement the binder that I received with the course.

See also my list of books in my sailing library.

Mariner's Weather
Understanding Weatherfax
The Weather Wizard's Cloud Book: A Unique Way to Predict the Weather Accurately and Easily by Reading the Clouds

Ambiguous explainations
I learn pretty well from books and have taught myself some rather complex things that way.As a sailor and technical person, with some understanding of weather prediction and understanding weather charts going in, I still found the information difficult to assimilate.The author frequently uses terms without defining them, and his descriptions are often ambiguous, making understanding the material frustrating.I am reading it for the second time, and still find this to be the case.For example, he will make reference to something "below the [upper level] trough", and you need to somehow figure out whether he means closer to the equator, since the plane of the waves is north-south; or closer to the earth.The material is very useful, but he needed a better editor or proof-reader

Disappointed
As a scientist, physician, and sailor, I consider myself fairly good at assimilating technical material, but I had trouble with this book.The author (like the NOAA meterologists who write those impenetrable forecast discussions) does not seem content to stick with one set of terms.A better editor would have helped him do so.One of the main thrusts of the text is the relationship between upper atmosphere phenomena (troughs and ridges) and surface conditions.After reading the book, I still don't have a satisfying grasp of how this relationship works, mainly, I think, because the phenomena are defined in descriptive rather than mechanistic terms.I am going to read it again, but will be looking for something better. ... Read more

Product Description
The single most important fact of life to the racing yachtsman, cruiser, or merchant seaman is the weather. This book about the weather, written by a master mariner, sets out to fill the gap between "instant knowledge" books which prvide a veneer of jargon, and heavy texts requiring prior knowledge of meteorology. This book presents instead a seamanlike survey of the basics of weather, offering a foundation for practical observation and interpretation as well as a ground-work for advanced study. Basic information on the atmosphere, winds, heat and its consequences, clouds, fogs, fronts, tropical cyclones, ice, instruments and charts is provided here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Thick reading
As mentioned in other posts, this is not a light read.In depth explanations of weather formation, essential information for passagemakers who need to form their own forecasts.Maybe a little much for the coastal cruiser & overnight passagemaker like me.

Excellent book on weather
This book explains in understandable terms and clear descriptions the complex nature of weather. I highly recommend this book for anyone (even nonsailors) who wishes to gain an understanding of how weather conditions develop and how the different forces that affect the weather interact.

Great Book, for Weather One is Not Enough


I buy books in pairs or triples, but in the case of weather, both in preparation for the 35-hour Advanced Meterology Course and as a reference library after the fact, I bought four, the other three hot-linked below.

Weather extremes are getting worse, NOAA is under-funded and has trouble getting one 96 hour forecast out, the bottom line is that we are largely on our own where the boat meets the wave offshore.

This book is packed with more detail, including very specific guidance on what to do in relation to specific situations, and absolutely great multiple choice quesitons at the end of each chapter.

This is "the" textbook, but I don't believe in just one book, so I like all four together.

See also my list of books in my sailing library.

Understanding Weatherfax
The Weather Wizard's Cloud Book: A Unique Way to Predict the Weather Accurately and Easily by Reading the Clouds
International Marine's Weather Predicting Simplified: How to Read Weather Charts and Satellite Images

A Definitive Book on Weather

After reading over a dozen titles dedicated to explain weather to the sailor, I finally found the book that really explains the causes, development and forecasting in a way that can be understood and used by those going to sea.My prior efforts included attending several multi-day seminars, but I was not satisfied with the results of my reading and studying until I got this book.The concept of stable or unstable air is fundamental to understanding weather, and this is the first book (among the ones I read) that explains "adiabatic lapse rate" as it relates to the heating of the atmosphere and the effect on weather formation.It also includes easy reference tables to recognize and forecast change, the evolution of fronts and the visible signs of it: including cloud formation, etc. that makes our life aboard more predictable.These concepts are more complex and sophisticated that most authors dear to explain, but without understanding them the picture is incomplete.This book is not easy read: just going through the pages once, is not enough to grasp the concepts (at least not for me), as I had to re-read again several chapters, but it is worth it if you truly want to understand weather and be able to make predictions.This is not `reading' material, but `study' material.The one concept the book does not cover enough is the Jet Stream and its influence on the creation of pressure systems, as in a curve down would create a low, and a curve up will produce a high pressure system, but this is repeated in all other books.He does mention the 500 mb chart, but does not go over it as much as I would have liked it.This book was first published before the Internet so it does not include any reference to it as a way to obtain weather information.An updated edition would be great, but all things considered, this is still the most complete and the best book on weather I found.

Excellent Handbook for the Mariner.
This is truely a gem!For those who are going to sea or those who are weather enthusiasts, this book should be in your library.My wife and I sailed across the Pacific and were helped immensely by Crawford's book. Itis well written for both the unfamiliar reader as well as those wanting anin depth understanding of what makes weather happen and what to expectwhile it's happening.With almost every page having diagrams orphotographs, Crawford takes the reader through an explanation of theatmosphere, introducing the reader to the whys and wheres of winds, therole that heat plays in meteorology, discussions of clouds, fogs, ice, andfronts. He discusses weather instruments and weather charts.The book isdirected toward the mariner, both professional and cruiser.Though hisbook is not layed out specifically with generalities first, followed byincreased specifics and details,it is not difficult for the reader to getthe general gist of what the author is trying to convey, without having tosort through pages of confusing details.At the same time, those who arehungry for the intricacies of meteorlogical phenomina will have a hard timeputting the book down: for them it will be like a compelling novel, andtheir sleep schedule will likely suffer as a result.

I am surprised tofind that I am the first to review this fine book, because I regularly giveit as a gift, and well received it has been! ... Read more

Product Description
Fairyland is home to the seven Weather Fairies!Along with Doodle the rooster and his magical feathers, they bring all of the weather to Fairyland.But when evil Jack Frost and his goblins steal the feathers, the weather turns wacky.It's up to the Weather Fairies to fix it -- fast!

A loose lightning bolt could cause terrible trouble in Wetherbury!Can Storm the Lightning Fairy find her magic feather and get things under control -- before it's too late?

Find one feather in each book and fix the weather in Fairyland! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Looked Great
I gave these to my surrogate granddaughter.She is only 5 so she is not reading well yet.Hopefully her big sister read them to her.

Weather Fairies
The books are really cute.However, all of the books in the series are small chapters in a larger story.That means you have to go back and buy the other books to see how the story ends.It was a tricky way to get me to buy more of their product.Because I had to buy six books for my daughter to finish one story, I'm not sure I will buy the other fairy books from this author.

Good series for younger readers...and very, very, very girly
This is the second series of "Rainbow Magic" fairy books written by Daisy Meadows, picking up where the seven-part Rainbow Fairies series left off.These books are innocent and engaging, focusing on two young girls, Kirsty and Rachel, who meet while on vacation with their parents, and are drawn into the magical world of the fairies, who are in conflict with the mischievous Jack Frost. The structure of this series is nearly identical to the first: the girls are given a quest in which they must help seven fairies (each with sparkles aplenty and cute, super-girly outfits and princess-y names such as Hayley, Heather, Iris, Amber and Iris... ) who have been bothered by Jack and his goblin helpers. In each book they complete one part of the quest and meet one new fairy.

It is important to know going in that these books are interconnected -- each individual volume ties in with the others, so you will want to start with book #1, then go on to #2, etc. The plots are not very complicated, but they do make reference to each other, and the idea is to read them all together.

The other thing to know is that these books are not very scary or troubling - there is action, but no violence and not much real danger (the goblins are easily beaten, and not very frightening) so if you are looking for longer narratives for young kids to read, but don't want anything disturbing, this series is good option. One criticism is that the books are pretty WASP-y, and while a couple of the fairies might be seen as Asian, basically the entire series takes place in an all-white, middle-class world, populated with thin, blonde girls and a few brunettes. Other than that, though, this is a good series for families looking for light, engaging, age-appropriate stories. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

My daughter wants all the books now!
My daughter is 9 and has Asperger's syndrome, or high functioning autism.She collects feathers, and the weather is one of her IMPORTANT subjects. She reads fast, and finished this book quickly.... and informed me that she needs to read the rest of them so could I please help her get them right away?The story itself is a little intense because the goblin is actually trying to hit Storm and girls with lightning, but of course it all comes out okay in the end.We will definitely read the other books in the series!

Got My Daughter Interested in Reading Again
We've been struggling for a way to get my daughter to read now that she's run out of Junie B. Jones books. The Weather Fairies books have done the trick.She seems to enjoy reading again for the first time in half a year or more.

I have to say I haven't read any of the Weather Fairies myself but I caught my twelve-year-old son reading the series because his sister had obviously liked it.He said he wanted to read more, too. ... Read more

Product Description
A brilliant and wonderfully reviewed first novel: the story of two sisters and the man who enters both their lives.

During the worst of the prairie dust bowl of the 1930's, a young man appears out of a blizzard, and two sisters' lives are changed forever. Norma Joyce Hardy is the dark and lonely girl whose boldness and cunning prove so seductive; against her vivid, tricky personality, the beautiful and saintly Lucinda can barely hold her own. A Student of Weather traces their rivalry over decades to the century's end. In this gorgeous novel, Elizabeth Hay lays bare the lasting imprint on the human heart of physical landscape, family rivalries, and first love.

"[An] enormously moving first novel.... An unsentimental testament to resilience and mettle.... A triumphant novel."--Newsday

"[A] novel with passionate, urgent grace."--Boston Globe

"Beautiful and excited in every way-in character, and theme, setting Elizabeth Hay firmly in the company of such other writers as Margaret Atwood and Carol Shields."--New Orleans Times-Picayune ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Weathering family and social relaitionships
Most Americans feel we were the only country to suffer the challenges of the 1930's dust bowl, however the reality is that it physically effectedCanada'speople as well,while it financially devastated many countries in the fall out. The author, Ms. Elizabeth Hay presents a rich and diverse novel taking place mostly in Saskatchewan, Ottawa and Ontario, during these years and after. She concentrated more on a family and how events of those years and before peeled apart the Hardy family like an onion.

This is an intense novel. One young man, by the name of Mr Maurice Dove becomes friendswith the surviving family members as he researches weather, plant live and expounds to the family thepearls of wisdom that flow from him to the captive Hardy audience, especially the two your Hardy sisters. As the onion peels. so does this incredible story.Deaths, secrets, underage sex, and heartbreak dominate the beginning. As the real truth becomes obvious, another fallout begins. Mr. Dove managesto establish himself firmly in their lives, to the despair of his family and the Hardy's. Being 23, and the world at his calling, he is just as infatuated by the 9 year old difference in the sister's ages.

This is alsoa story of both sisters trying to survive during some of the toughest years and later work at solving some of the mysteries that have been hidden from them all their life. It can get a little confusing, paranormal (? )as dreams become real and some are indistinguishable from the truth. One is the rattler that Normal Joyce wrestles with at the end of the novel in the car. Dream, real?What do you think?I am open for anyone 's interpretation!

At times the book reads a little slow, and I expected more than several different outcomes.But that is what reading is about, you just never know how it is going to end.

Painting one's self a life, living inside the truth of love...
Saskatchewan, Canada, 1930s.
The cranky father, Ernest Hardy...The Sister, Lucinda Hardy... The Stranger (who brings the rain to the dusty prairie, Maurice Dove... The Twin who died, Norman... The One Called Ugly, Strange, lazy, Joyce, renamed Norma Joyce after little Norman died.

Norma Joyce, comes to be the most beautiful child filled with imagination, even though everyone finds her to be ugly and unmotivated.She holds healing, learning and loving in her soul.

A story of two sisters, growing up among the dust of the plains, the dust of a dull life. One sister breathtakingly beautiful, a home maker and favorite daughter.One sister, a collector of objects and stories who would rather be daydreaming in the dust then inside keeping a house. One winter day a stranger enters into the Hardy Family Home and he changes their lives for ever.

Norma Joyce Hardy. Enough said.A powerful and beautiful story of discovery of self and love.A story written with dream like descriptions of the weather, the landscapes.
Words turning into a vision of a painting.
Norma Joyce, a painter, discovers the art of painting one's self a landscape, a life.

Satisfyingly good
Readers looking for a lively heoroine and a romance with a happy ending will be disappointed, but readers willing to let the story unfold will be rewarded.Yes, the man in question is a thorough-going dog, but the real story here is how Norma (the younger, troubled, unbeautiful sister), rescues her life from a disastrous childhood and adolescence.The settings (Depression eraCanada, post-war New York) are rich in atmosphere, and Norma's gradual discovery of her artistic abilities held me all the way.

A Master of Art
The criticism of most of the other reviewers seems to amount to this: Fine writing, talented author, beautiful descriptions, but no moral to the bleak story. The characters don't "learn" anything.What, one might well ask, is the "moral" of Hamlet?Whatdoes he learn? What is the "morality" of Wuthering Heights?What does Heathcliff learn? How about Joyce's Ulysses? Moral anyone?- Reading the reviews, one begins to suspect that a group of frustrated Sunday school teachers got together to compose them.

The fact that there is no "moral" to the novel is another of its attributes.Has anyone else caught on to the fact that Norma Joyce's surname might be significant? Or how about the Hardy family? - It should be apparent to anyone reading this novel with the slightest knowledge of English literature that Hay's greatest literary influence, along with her character Norma Joyce's, is Thomas Hardy, who is mentioned in the work several times as Norma's favourite author.The book resembles nothing so much as Hardy's Jude the Obscure - A feminine version of Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage is another apt comparison. - The wonderfully told narrative maintains its artistic strength through its mirroring of reality.I can put it no better than Hay in her description of Maurice's falling in temporary love/lust with Norma:

"Probably it happens fairly often, falling in love in a dream.You wake up with an appetite for someone you might not even like.But in the dream there was sex, and upon waking, the idea of sex, and from then on that person is on your mind in an entirely new way."

In other words, life, like a dream, just rather happens to one, for good or ill----And how accurately Hay describes it!Let's hope that the moralists out there don't discourage Hay from writing another novel, as they did Thomas Hardy after he penned Jude the Obscure.

Four stars because the book doesn't quite measure up to the masterpiece of which I feel certain Hay is capable of giving us.

Seasons of discontent,
It's an interesting experience to encounter a book in which none of the major figures is likeable. Yet that very circumstance is a tribute to Elizabeth Hay's eloquent portrayal of two sisters in drought-ridden central Canada. Her people are deep and complex, intensely drawn and immensely real. Even the peripheral characters ring true, without the blemish of contrivance. Hay's descriptive ability in both urban and rural settings gives this book further enhancement. She vividly depicts the impact of environment on her chief protagonist, providing a framework for change of mood throughout the narrative. Hay, too, is clearly a student of weather. And a keen observer of people.

Norma Joyce Hardy initiates a life-long adoration of Maurice Dove with a touch on his cheek. That she's but a child is of little moment. That she's overshadowed by her sister's beauty becomes even less so. Even at nine years of age, she's driven by determination to find the means to supplant Lucinda. Resentful of her sister's looks, industry, and favoured place with their father, she becomes secretive, duplicitous, devious. Lucinda, having replaced their dead mother, is vulnerable, and Norma Joyce takes advantage of that exposure. Maurice becomes the tool for expressing Norma's envy, but she becomes the victim of her own machinations. Maurice, unsurprisingly, is following his own agenda, and Norma's place in it is problematic.

In pursuit of Maurice, Norma Joyce's life orbits like an erratic comet. From the most rural to the most urban environments in North America and back again, her loci remain vague. Only Maurice is a fixed point, but that seeming stability actually is the cause of her displacements. She is torn between seeking and avoiding him, particularly when the attainment of her goal leads to the inevitable result. Hay brings the Hardy family out of dry Saskatchewan to "golden" Ontario. Ottawa, however pleasant and green, fails to bring rest, and Norma pursues Maurice to New York City. A greater contrast to Prairie Canada can hardly be imagined, but Hay guides us through Norma's transition flawlessly. New York, however, doesn't resolve her situation with Maurice, which grows ever more complicated. Nor is the relationship of the sisters granted an easy path. Who carries the burden of Lucinda's fate will be the topic of endless debate.

Hay's account is admirable in its prowess in compelling attention to people and places. The factual nature of her characters, their failure to fulfill simple expectations is a credit to her skills. A love story of sorts, this is hardly a "romantic novel." It is a richly rewarding story, worthy of your attention. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

Product Description

Often when I write a book review the reader is able to deduce from the way I write it, whether or not it is an item which I truly believe is exceptional, or just something which is here simply because it is "supposed to be". This is one of those exceptional books and although it is a little more expensive than other weather books, it is truly a good example of getting what you pay for. This 3rd edition of Aviation Weather is Jeppesen at its best. It is also, without a doubt, the best and clearest book on weather as it pertains to pilots that I have seen.

Aviation Weather is designed to help the student of aviation understand their atmosphere in which he or she operates. It also serves as a valuable reference source for pilots at all levels. Whether your connection to flying is as a new student, a certified pilot, controller, dispatcher, scientist, engineer, or an interested passenger, Aviation weather will help you understand the strong interdependence of aviation and meteorology through over 300 full color illustrations, a minimum of mathematics, and a maximum of practical information.

Customer Reviews (2)

Practical???
This book was full of theory. Theory is important up to a point . I got all of the information contained in this book in a cheaper book Aviation Weather and Weather Services (Gleim)
Practical weather was contained to small paragraphs in the last chapter of the book. As an instrument pilot I found the very little information on the actual flying aspect. Classroom oriented, certainly not cockpit oriented.

Aviation weather finally presented in pleasant format.
As a student private pilot it's easy to get too much dull information in front of you that must be sifted through to find practical pearls.Aviation Weather by Peter Lester comes closest of the many sources forweather information out there that gives relevant and beautifully formattedinformation in a succinct presentation.It's hard to make METAR and TAFabbreviations readable to a new student, but this Jeppesen book trys to atleast tie them in with all the other weather information available, andshow many different sources available to pilots for their preflightbriefing. ... Read more

Product Description
What we call weather is caused by forces occurring globally that are in constant motion. 'The Weather Book' starts with the "big picture," our place in space, and explains how each of the various weather conditions play a role in our daily lives. Learn how thunderstorms build, hurricanes are formed, tornadoes destroy, and about crazy weather phenomenon. Included are fascinating insights to weather in the past, including Noah's flood and the Ice Age, and weather in the future. Safety tips are given for dangerous weather situations and instructions for building a weather station. Fifty full-color illustrations and over 75 photographs help make this book equal in quality to any public school textbook. A standout in homes, libraries, and classrooms. 'The Weather Book' is the first in a series that honors God as Creator. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great science books
We used this book and the series it comes from in our Christian co-op.Very good!

study guide
book is alright. need book to go with it to answer questions in this study guide.

Photographically beautiful
This text has numerous photographs and illustrations.The text is a little cumbersome for some readers.It does provide opportunities for enriching scientific vocabulary.As homeschoolers, our family is using this text together with several others.This definitely shouldn't be the text of choice for very small children, but it is ideal for older, more experienced readers/scientists.

Enlightening
This book was very useful when teaching my children about the weather. We learned lots of interesting things, and all from the perspective that God was in control of it all. They even explain El Nino. The pictures are colorful and wonderful. Anyone could benefit from using this book.

Learn little-known Facts About the Weather
Almost everyone talks about the weather. But this is no run of the mill book on this topic. Oard, the author, is a professional meteorologist. He has fascinating insights on weather-related processes, and he also relatesthem to Biblical descriptions of weather phenomena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Fascinating book!
This book is just fabulous.Like all the Audubon field guides, it's split into three parts - the intro, the photos, and the explanatory section.Full of fascinating information, great photographs, and fun facts.Sure to please anybody interested in the outdoors, the budding meterologist, photographer, gardener, hiker, etc.Heavy emphasis on clouds and their formation, with info on droughts, rainbows, even fogbows!Well worth every penny.

Awesome Product!
Awesome pictures, very detailed but easy to understand for a beginner. I gave it to my Uncle who is a science teacher and he was thrilled!

Excellent Book
National Audubon Society Field Guides are the GREATEST!Thank you for this excellent book on the weather.This book is technical, but really gets into forcasting the wather.

Great gift book, and a surprising work too too!
I have given several of these as gifts to friends of a more scientific mindset, and they love it.They can pick it up and identify that odd thing over the mountain, and the haze around the moon.I have also used it many times for work.I can show a Director this book and he/she can say "I want that kind of sky!".Sure beats trying to create a sky from some vague mis-informed description of clouds they say years ago!I am about to give a copy to a director I'm working with right now, and that's why I'm here: to order it!.He loved the book today when I pushed it across the tabe to him, and it helped flag the clouds we'll use in his commercial.I recemmend it to anyone of a curious mindset, or for professional art direction.High quality binding too!

L.E.

Great Book!
This is a great book. We have several Audobon Society handbooks and love them all. ... Read more

Product Description
A handy reference to the awesome forces of nature we witness every day.

For anyone who is dazzled by dramatic displays of wind, thunder, and lightning, Weather For Dummies is an indispensable guide to the basic science behind these daily phenomena. From frontal systems to jet streams, this book gives you the tools you need to understand the climate around you. It includes:

• Explanations fo the hottest weather topics including El NiÒo, global warming, and more
• A color insert filled with weather maps and photos of weather phenomena
• Resources such as Web sites, weather organizations, and publications
• Fascinating information on clouds--from the wispy cirrus to the bubbling mammatus
• Fun weather experiments anyone can do

Customer Reviews (10)

I haven't found anything in the index...
My husband and I started watching the Teaching Company's course on Meteorology and I had planned to use this book as a reference for extra reading.
This book's explanation for black ice was one sentence, couldn't find psychrometer, vapor capacity or vapor supply, etc. Maybe this book needs to be updated but I haven't found it helpful OR interesting in the layout.I usually like the Complete Idiot's Guide books better but ordered this one because of the five stars. It doesn't deserve a high rating. There HAS to be a better beginning weather book out there but it isn't this one.

Great for Beginners
If you know very little about the whys & wherefores of weather then this is the book for you.It is a light read and gives you all you need to know.You won't be able to work as a professional weatherman, but you will get a good grasp of the intricate science of meteorology.I recommend the book and the price is right.

Easy to Understand and a Great Book!
If you would like a general understanding of the weather this is the book! It's an easy read and full of information. The good thing is that you won't need a scientific dictionary to get through this book. Highly recommended.

Great Entertaining Reference Book...
Weather has been a interest and hobby of mine since the days that I prayed for a blizzard to close all the local schools, and I could enjoy a rare leisurely breakfast while watching the Lone Ranger.Living in New England there isn't much that we avoid year 'round when it comes to just about all that can be experienced weather wise.Heat, cold, snow, rain, drought, wind, hurricanes, and even absolutely perfect weather on occasion.Weather books are pretty easy to come about online here.I own perhaps a dozen or more of them altogether.Along with a couple of weather stations and several weather radios.I guess you could say that when I talk about the weather, I am not just desperate for conversation...

The problem with most weather books is that they have a tendency to assume you already know too much. Believe me I know for I understand weather rather well and own a good many books on the subject as stated before. Being educated as to weather and its terminology and technical aspects is something that is both most entertaining and interesting, especially when you are reading a book that begins by assuming you barely understand and know what weather is. A good book that expresses it all in a plain easy to understand style brings a whole new understanding to terms like a front, back door high, Yankee clipper, and the sentimental favorite, the good old Nor'easter.The Dummy series of books has always been a favorite of mine.I own several of them.Everything from weather here to bird feeding.I not only enjoy the sheer volume of knowledge that is always included in their pages, but I very much enjoy the old time folksy way that the information is delivered.The Dummy book on weather is definitely no exception.It begins with a chapter that is comparable to weather 101, and it's laid back easy style makes it fun and enjoyable, while at the same time being very informative from the opening chapters.Like all dummy books I have owned, there is also a generous helping of humor thrown in every chapter as well.It's my opinion you will find this weather book comfortable in your home as either a book that is occasionally picked up and thumbed through, or something you can't find it permissible to put down and end up reading from cover to cover.In any event, you will not onlyfind yourself gathering a very respectable knowledge base along the way as to weather and its terminologies, but well understanding all those facts and figures we have heard on TV weather forecasts since childhood, but really don't understand much at all.It is well worth the price that Amazon is asking for it here, and even a bargain as dummy books go.Especially if bundled into a free shipping package.

If you have any interest in weather at all, I would suggest you pick up this dummy book as your premier reference book on the subject.Even if you are someone that has had an interest in the weather for some time and own a couple of other books, I would still suggest picking up this one.It's one of the best and most entertaining books on weather that I own, and who knows, after reading it, you just may find yourself knowing beforehand whether you will have the kids home the next day when the clueless weatherman is forecasting a classic wait and see attitude about that massive storm front approaching...I highly recommend weather for dummies.Pick up and enjoy...... :D

A good description of meteorology for the layman
I waited a long time to buy this book until I could get a bargain copy through amazon.com and I was not disappointed!Dr. Cox explains the science of weather so well that anyone with even a smattering of education can understand it.He also brought us up to date on the latest
"toys" used by the weathermen and weathercasters to inform us all of something that we all talk about but few of us understand. ... Read more

Product Description
The primary purpose of Aviation Weather and Weather Services is to provide you with an up-to-date compilation of all the FAA's weather publications in one easy-to-read and easy-to-understand reference book. This book is largely a reformation of the FAA's Aviation Weather (AC 00-6A, published 1975) and Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45E, published December 1999), but other ACs (advisory circulars) are covered as well.

We provide 100% coverage of all the material in the FAA's Aviation Weather and Aviation Weather Services. We have presented this information in our outline/illustration format, which completely explains and illustrates all of the concepts from the FAA's books. We use the same figures (including color), charts, and graphs to help you learn and understand aviation weather. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Weather & Weather Services
Great book!A necessary supplement to the usual pile of pilot supplies issued for both fixed-wing and rotorcraft aviation students.Most helpful was the expanded explanation of those weather reports cited by the PTS which we can never seem to find a good ledger for, i.e., Weather Prognostic, Convective Sigment, Radar Summary, Area Forecast, etc.Now I am confident my explanation of weather reports will not be an issue on my checkride day! ... Read more