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. |
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Page xii
... 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 - formed eye at its center . 71 7.2 Vertical cross section of a ...
... 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 - formed eye at its center . 71 7.2 Vertical cross section of a ...
Page 4
... example of major natural atmos- pheric changes . More than ever before , the study of weather and climate , past and present , is important in gauging the climate of the future and the time scale over which changes are likely to occur ...
... example of major natural atmos- pheric changes . More than ever before , the study of weather and climate , past and present , is important in gauging the climate of the future and the time scale over which changes are likely to occur ...
Page 15
... example , carbon dioxide's molecules are identical and contain two atoms of oxygen in combination with one atom of carbon ) , nor is it a simple element such as oxygen , hy- drogen , or even iron . Our atmosphere consists primarily of ...
... example , carbon dioxide's molecules are identical and contain two atoms of oxygen in combination with one atom of carbon ) , nor is it a simple element such as oxygen , hy- drogen , or even iron . Our atmosphere consists primarily of ...
Page 20
... examples above , everyone in both places is miserable , but some people are more miserable than others . Many factors prevent the DI from revealing whether someone is com- fortable or miserable or somewhere in between . Activity ...
... examples above , everyone in both places is miserable , but some people are more miserable than others . Many factors prevent the DI from revealing whether someone is com- fortable or miserable or somewhere in between . Activity ...
Page 23
... example , to the widespread but false belief that crimes occur more fre- quently near the time of the full Moon . Careful observation shows no in- crease in crime at that time despite firm beliefs to the contrary . This is a case of ...
... example , to the widespread but false belief that crimes occur more fre- quently near the time of the full Moon . Careful observation shows no in- crease in crime at that time despite firm beliefs to the contrary . This is a case of ...
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.