Images in Weather Forecasting: A Practical Guide for Interpreting Satellite and Radar Imagery [Paperback]

M. J. Bader (Editor), G. S. Forbes (Editor), J. R. Grant (Editor), R. B. E. Lilley (Editor), A. J. Waters (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1997

This manual presents the meteorology student and operational forecaster with the current techniques for interpreting satellite and radar images of weather systems in mid-latitudes. The focus of the book is the large number of illustrations. Images are matched with conceptual models and weather charts. Written in an image-led mode, rather than in the style of a standard textbook on meteorology, the presentation allows the user to identify and interpret patterns on the images as easily and quickly as possible. Patterns observed in satellite and radar images have been explained in terms of basic archetypal airflows. Examples are presented showing variations on the basic archetypes for many regions. Material for the book has been provided by experts from North America and Europe, and reviewed by people from universities, training establishments of meteorological services and operational forecasters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review of the hardback: 'Anyone who gets on top of everything in this beautifully produced book is likely to improve their forcasting success rate. The rest of us can simply enjoy the intoxicating mixture of order and chaos, as revealed in the images presented here.' New Scientist

'The editors should be congratulated in assimilating the vast amount of material from the many contributors mentioned. ... The manual must be considered a quintessential asset and will remain so probably for the next ten years at least. ... Although there is a great deal of material with hundreds of examples, the contents are laid out in a logical fashion so that the reader can use the manual as a quick reference if needed.' Nick Grahame, Weather

'In conclusion, this manual has much to recommend it. It treats, in a very practical and up-to-date way, the whole range of mid-latitude weather systems, giving theoretical insight to the operational forecaster and presenting the observational aspects to the dynamical researcher. Both groups would benefit from having ready access to this text.' Keith Watson, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society

'There has been a need for such a manual from the community of operational forecasters for a long time. ... The reader will certainly be astonished by the wealth of information that can be extracted from apparently simple images. ... The book is highly recommended for all operational forecasters. It may also be used as a textbook in undergraduate or graduate courses of synoptic, satellite and radar meteorology.' World Meteorological Organization Bulletin

'The sheer size of this hard-back manual immediately suggests that a huge amount of work has gone into its preparation. ... The editors should be congratulated in assimilating the vast amount of material from the many contributors mentioned. ... The manual must be considered a quintessential asset and will remain so probably for the next ten years at least. ... Although there is a great deal of material with hundreds of examples, the contents are laid out in a logical fashion so that the reader can use the manual as a quick reference if needed.' Nick Grahame, Weather

'As a compilation of proven image interpretation techniques from experts around the world, this book provides a valuable resource and learning tool for the conceptually minded meteorology student or operational forecaster who wishes to more fully exploit visible and infrared satellite and radar data.' Daphne S. Zaras, EOS

Book Description

The aim of this manual is to present the meteorology student and operational forecaster with the current techniques for interpreting satellite and radar images of weather systems in mid-latitudes. The focus of the book is the large number of illustrations which match images with conceptual models and weather charts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 523 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521629152
• ISBN-13: 978-0521629157
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,381,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STIMULATING IMAGERY, May 11, 2000

By 

M. Parke "Matt" (Florida Keys) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Images in Weather Forecasting: A Practical Guide for Interpreting Satellite and Radar Imagery (Paperback)

This book provides the best overall technical discussion of the use of satellite imagery and radar data in weather forecasting. For the weather enthusiast this book may at times be difficult to understand;however, there still is plenty of easy to understand information pertaining to visible, infrared, and water vapor imagery interpretation. The book is richly appointed with color and black and white figures with concise discussions of the meteorological conditions that produce the weather described in the figure. I would especially recommend this book for the serious student of meteorology.