Weather: How It Works And Why It MattersScientists have delved deep into the smallest particles of matter and have extended their view to the far reaches of the universe, but still seem unable to predict the temperature five days hence. In this intriguing book, two scientists examine recent progress in the fields of meteorology and climatology. Amid colorful anecdotes of the Galapagos, Siberia, and places closer to home, they describe the earth's atmosphere, its origin and structure, and the forces that have shaped and continue to affect it. They explore temperature, pressure, and other properties of air and weather, including warm and cold fronts, highs and lows, clouds, trade winds, prevailing westerlies, and sky phenomena such as rainbows, halos, coronae, and sun dogs. The authors end with a discussion of the major threats to earth's atmosphere brought on by human activity, including global warming and ozone depletion, and argue that pure science -- not politics -- should dictate our policy responses. |
From inside the book
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Page iv
... ) 252-5298 . Text design by Jeff Williams Set in 11 - point Minion by Perseus Publishing Services First paperback printing , September 2001 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10-03 02 01 To Silvia , Jeanette , Bernhard , Frances , Josephine.
... ) 252-5298 . Text design by Jeff Williams Set in 11 - point Minion by Perseus Publishing Services First paperback printing , September 2001 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10-03 02 01 To Silvia , Jeanette , Bernhard , Frances , Josephine.
Page xii
... first form along the mountain summits , as is shown here . 6.6 An example of cumulus clouds 55 57 59 63 6.7 An example of cirrus clouds . 64 6.8 An example of stratus clouds . 65 7.1 Hurricane John , a typical hurricane showing a well ...
... first form along the mountain summits , as is shown here . 6.6 An example of cumulus clouds 55 57 59 63 6.7 An example of cirrus clouds . 64 6.8 An example of stratus clouds . 65 7.1 Hurricane John , a typical hurricane showing a well ...
Page xvi
... first seven chapters investigate the properties of weather , and the remaining chapters take a look at climates of the past , present , and as far as possible , the future as well . 1 INTRODUCTION We have not inherited the World from ...
... first seven chapters investigate the properties of weather , and the remaining chapters take a look at climates of the past , present , and as far as possible , the future as well . 1 INTRODUCTION We have not inherited the World from ...
Page 2
... first , the winds of winter storms wreak havoc in bar- baric proportions ; in the second , not even a gentle susurrus stirs the leaves wilting in the unrelenting heat . Climatologists know that both these ex- tremes are growing more ...
... first , the winds of winter storms wreak havoc in bar- baric proportions ; in the second , not even a gentle susurrus stirs the leaves wilting in the unrelenting heat . Climatologists know that both these ex- tremes are growing more ...
Page 3
... first group we find Venus and the four gassy giant planets : Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , and Neptune , along with Saturn's largest satellite , Titan , and , in a sense , the Sun , which is gaseous throughout . The terrestrial planets ...
... first group we find Venus and the four gassy giant planets : Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , and Neptune , along with Saturn's largest satellite , Titan , and , in a sense , the Sun , which is gaseous throughout . The terrestrial planets ...
Contents
15 | |
The Four Seasons | 31 |
Weather Wisdom and Lore | 55 |
Stormy Weather | 71 |
Here Come the Glaciers | 92 |
The Majority Rules | 146 |
From Hoax to Menace | 154 |
Two Worlds | 166 |
The World in a Future Climate | 183 |
Mass and Weight | 200 |
Instances of Global Warming | 213 |
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Common terms and phrases
abundance acid air masses altitude amount Atlantic atmos atmosphere atomic average carbon dioxide cause century clouds cold colder comet cool Coriolis Effect density dew point difference Earth Earth's atmosphere El Niño energy ENSO equator eruption Europe event feet Figure forests fossil fuels glaciers global temperature global warming greenhouse effect greenhouse gases Greenland ground Gulf Stream heat Holocene humidity hurricanes increase isotope kilometers known land latitude layers Little Ice Age major measure mechanism meters midlatitudes miles molecules Moon Niño North America Northern Hemisphere occur ocean currents orbit oxygen ozone particles percent period phere planets plankton polar poles precipitation predict present produce rain reached records regions rise satellites scale sea level seasons snow snowfall solar radiation storms stratosphere summer surface tion trees trend Tropics troposphere ture variations vegetation Venus volcanic warmer water vapor weather weather lore wind winter Zone
Popular passages
Page 55 - He answered and said unto them, "When it is evening ye say, 'It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.
Page 92 - Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken — The ice was all between. The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!
Page 63 - When the wind is in the east, It's good for neither man nor beast. When the wind is in the north, The old folk should not venture forth, When the wind is in the south, It blows the bait in the fishes
Page 50 - The moon and the weather May change together; But change of the moon Does not change the weather. If we'd no moon at all, And that may seem strange, We still should have weather That's subject to change.
Page 70 - Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanes, spout Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks! You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts, Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder, Smite flat the thick rotundity o
Page 42 - The first day or so we all pointed to our countries. The third or fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day we were aware of only one Earth.
Page 58 - When the dew is on the grass, Rain will never come to pass. When the grass is dry at night, Look for rain before the light. When grass is dry at morning light, Look for rain before the night.
Page 196 - I'd buried Maman, and like then, my forehead especially was hurting me, all the veins in it throbbing under the skin. It was this burning, which I couldn't stand anymore, that made me move forward. I knew that it was stupid, that I wouldn't get the sun off me by stepping forward. But I took a step, one step, forward.