Customer Reviews

International Marine's Weather Predicting Simplified: How to Read Weather Charts and Satellite Images

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michael Carr explains weather better than anyone I know. He uncomplicates the theory, makes sense out of the details and variables, and presents this often-too-technical subject in a friendly, easy to understand way. Read this book and the logic of weather falls clearly in place -- through the authors clear descriptions, excellent graphics and extensive resources.

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.

This is the best weather prediction guide I've seen. Michael Carr makes it easy to understand and interpret weather prediction models and provides plenty of examples so you can make sense of those satellite images available online! Not only that, he applies his extensive blue water sailing experience in helping to identify appropriate tactics for heavy weather avoidance. I wouldn't go to sea without it.

As Director of Ocean Navigator's School of Seamanship I have chosen Michael Carr's book as our textbook due to its high quality of content and material presentation. Michael is our instructor for weather and oceanography seminars and his book represnts years of first hand experience and information gathering.

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

Michael's book gets right to the essence of using satellite images, charts, and text weather information. This is reference that should be onboard every vessel, and will be used constantly. Skills and useful tips that Michael has accumulated from over twenty years of Coast Guard, Navy and ocean sailing experience are crammed into this book...I carry a copy everywhereI go!

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

This book is the result of several years research into an understandable approach to the worlds weather systems. It provides mariners with access to aavailable weather information and skills to interpret..resulting in safe and accurate routing decisions. Michael has been teaching weather, routing, navigation and seamanship seminars for Ocean Navigator for more than 10 years and served as Captain of our 90 ft training schooner Ocean Star. He has the experience and knowledge necessary to offer this valuable new weather book. And we have adopted the book as our text for Basic Advanced Weather seminars. This a captivating and clearly written book.

Michael's book gets right to the essence of using satellite images, charts, and text weather information. This is reference that should be onboard every vessel, and will be used constantly. Skills and useful tips that Michael has accumulated from over twenty years of Coast Guard, Navy and ocean sailing experience are crammed into this book...I carry a copy everywhereI go!

With this book there is no reason for prudent mariners to be surprised by imperfect weather forecasts or local conditions that general forecasts may not cover. Michael Carr, himself a proven mariner, has put together this excellent educational reference for his fellow mariners. I highly encourage you to read this book. This excerpted from my forward to Michael's book.

Lee Chesneau, Senior Forecaster. Marine Prediction Center, NOAA