Tornadoes (Worldlife Library) [Paperback]

H. Michael Mogil (Author)

Book Description

Series: Worldlife Library

Tornadoes are one of the most fascinating and powerful weather phenomena. These twisting columns of air can be incredibly destructive and often lethal when they touch the ground. Weather forecasters have long studied tornadoes in an attempt to better understand their origins and how to predict them. H. Michael Mogil expertly explains the mechanics of tornadoes, how and where they form, and what happens when they strike. He describes how advances in technology, including radar and weather satellites, have led to improved warning systems.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

H. Michael Mogil is a consulting meteorologist with more than 30 years of experience in meteorological operations and research, program and filed office management and training. He has worked for both the U.S. National Weather Service and in the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. He has written widely on meteorology both for children and for adults, and has extensive teaching experience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (December 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896585220
• ISBN-13: 978-0896585225
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,972,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Tornado-philes of all ages, November 14, 2001

By 

Keith C. Heidorn "The Weather Doctor" (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tornadoes (Worldlife Library) (Paperback)

The widespread fascination with tornadoes, particularly in North America, results in a high proportion of weather-topic books written on the subject for both children and adults. Few of those
really grab my attention as many are simply vehicles to publish dramatic tornado photographs and say little new about tornadoes.

"Tornadoes" by Michael Mogil is one book that grabs me from the first page. It very well illustrated with a large number of full-page-sized tornado photographs, but even more appealing are the top quality explanatory drawings. These are very attractive and yet convey much to-the-point information. The book's striking illustrations balance Mogil's well crafted text. His writing is strongly scientific yet clear enough to convey the complexities of the formation and life cycle of tornadoes and the thunderstorms which spawn them.

Mogil begins the book with a strong introduction to thunderstorms as a background for tornadic storms. In fact, the book could easily have been titled: "Thunderstorms and Tornadoes." The author then segues into the title topic through a discussion of the US National Weather Service Program for severe storm watches and warnings.

H. Michael Mogil's "Tornadoes" will be the benchmark to which I will compare future "children's books" on tornadoes and similar phenomena. It should be a part of every school or home weather
library. I also take the "and up" part of the recommended audience seriously. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to older audiences looking for a quick introduction to thunderstorms and tornadoes.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine First Introduction to Tornadoes, August 19, 2003

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tornadoes (Worldlife Library) (Paperback)

When I was six, our family visited our relatives in Illinois who lived on a farm. While there, my cousin and I wandered off to play. When the sky got black and lightning began striking, he headed off as fast as he could run. I dawdled along. By the time I got home the wind was howling, and we could see a tornado in the distance. In minutes, we were all in the storm cellar. Down there, it sounded like an express train was roaring by. When we came out, a 100-year-old oak tree lay across the top of the house, ripped out by the roots. To this day, I've never had as intense an experience as that one. I also didn't really understand what happened that day. Now, thanks to this book, I do understand the forces behind that experience.

Tornadoes is that rare book that combines dramatic, vivid photography with scientific material to explain what you are seeing. In most cases, I was able to follow what was said. Some descriptions were a little puzzling, such as what an "anvil" is which is not defined in the glossary at the end. Despite that, I can now look at thunderstorms with greater understanding, and appreciate their potential for harm through tornadoes. I was fascinated by the statistics on the harm that tornadoes routinely do in various parts of the world.

My only reservation about the book is that it seemed a little high priced for a 72-page paperback, but the quality of the images softened that reaction for me. Such excellent photographs and exhibits are expensive to acquire and reproduce.

If you would like to know a little more about tornadoes that what you hear on television, get this book!

Where else do dangerous phenomena fascinate in the same way? Only large fires probably are as appealing to the eye. What is it about these dangers that draws us to them? I know few people who love looking at earthquakes while they happen. Perhaps it is the ability to see them from what seems like a safe distance that turns them into fascinations, while an earthquake captures us in its danger while it is happening.