MacMillan Encyclopedia of Weather [Hardcover]

Paul Stein (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Edited by the senior meteorologist at the Weather Channel, this title is designed to acquaint readers in grades six through the adult level with important concepts in the field of meteorology. From Acid rain to Zonal flow, 150 entries are arranged alphabetically and vary in length from two or three paragraphs to almost 10 pages for Hurricanes and Tornadoes. Most entries are devoted to meteorological terms (Alberta Clipper, Hygrometer, Wind chill), but a handful of individuals, such as Theodore Fujita (he developed the Fujita scale for classifying tornadoes, although his entry neglects to mention this), are also included. The text is readable and does not overwhelm the reader with technical jargon. Each entry concludes with cross-references to other appropriate entries.

The illustrations are superior. The photographs are often dramatic, capturing weather phenomenon such as lightning strikes or cloud formations. Charts and satellite images help demonstrate points in the entries. Reference aids include a glossary with very brief definitions of terms, a bibliography of books published within the last five years, recent periodicals and Web sites, and an index. The index indicates main entries in bold type but does not list illustrations or charts.

This book will be useful for student reports as well as for browsing. UXL's The Complete Weather Source (1997) covers some of the same topics in more depth, using a textbook rather than a dictionary approach; and Grolier's colorful 12-volume Weather Watch (2000) examines the topic month-by-month; both are aimed at a slightly younger audience. The Macmillan volume is recommended for school and public libraries needing an accessible reference source on the topic. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 295 pages
• Publisher: Gacl (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028654730
• ISBN-13: 978-0028654737
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,211,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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