Customer Reviews

The Weather

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Weather is not something I was taught a lot about in all my science classes in college. It was not considered an 'important' science such as physics, biology, or chemistry...but rather something for those who were specifically interested in weather, classes were offered. Even though I reached a higher level of science education, weather science was never offered as a possible elective. People tend to make fun of the weathermen/women...because weather is such an inexact science. But those 'pretty' faces on our televisions are much more trained then they were five or ten years ago, many of them having degrees in metorology.

BBC is just continuing the inroads made by popularizing certain sciences similar to what can be seen on Discovery Channel or on the Weather Channel itself. And of everything studied in weather, no type of weather phenomenon has instigated as much interest as tornadoes (and hurricanes to a lesser degree). This book shows those phenomenom...but also all the other parts of weather that lead up to such catastrophic events. Weather is hardly just tornadoes...in fact, tornadoes are limited pretty much to the continental U.S. and also limited to a few months out of the year. Even more important I think, as a scientist and teacher is rain and drought, since our abilities to feed ourselves and others are dependent upon that.

This book covers basically everything...and it is basic, with pictures and sidebars taking up a lot of space. The science is kept to a minimum, and the sidebars are full of interesting little facets of weather science. This is a good introductory book (especially for use of the pictures and photographs), but there is more information out there on the weather that is more scientifically and clearly presented by groups such as NASA and the NOAA, who do a lot to keep track of the weather. This book used in conjunction with other web sites and internet information can be valuable. This is another one of the sciences like biology, that changes quickly over small periods of time, as new technology such as satellite systems become available to accurately track weather systems across the world. So no book is going to be valuable, or more importantly, accurate for very long.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh

I borrowed this book from the library thinking it might satisfy my curoisity about weather cycles,storms, rain,wind etc.Well,I opened the book and was pulled in to a non stop delicious weather adventure.I sailed the violent seas, met bold scientists,travelled the globe on untamed winds and learned how the jetstream took the world by surprise.I don't usually get excited about these things but I can't stop talking about this book to my friends.This book is informative,fascinating and complete. It will receive a well favoured spot on my book shelf.