Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)

by David K. Lynch (Author), William Livingston (Author) "We think of shadows as dark areas on the ground..." (more)
Key Phrases: antitwilight arch, anthelic arcs, anthelic pillar, Applied Optics, New York, Scientific American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Why is the sky blue? Why do mountains glow in the dark? Is the darkest always before the dawn?

An ideal reference to have on hand in answering questions such as these, Color and Light in Nature is an endlessly fascinating exploration of phenomena that are familiar to us all, but that even trained scientists take for granted. Take the question of why stars twinkle, for instance: twinkling, astronomers Lynch and Livingston observe, is strongest with stars that are low in the sky, and then on a clear and windy night, when starlight passing through the atmosphere encounters little pockets of turbulence that bend its rays "momentarily away from our eyes." Sunlight undergoes similar distortions, yielding mirages, "blinks," sundogs, halos, rainbows, "mountain light," and other wonders of nature, all of which the authors describe and explain in clear and accessible prose.

Lynch and Livingston encourage their readers to seek out and study these phenomena for themselves, writing, for instance, "No effort should be spared to witness at least one total eclipse in your lifetime." They go on to make a good case for why that should be so, and why the workings of light and color should be of interest to students of science. Their book is a lively companion and teacher. --Gregory McNamee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
'Each account is succinct and lucid, illustrated by both diagrams and photographs, some stunning in their beauty. A distinguishing feature of their account is a systematic attempt to give clear scientific explanations for each effect ... The balance of description and physical explanation is excellent.' Arthur Zajonc, Nature

'... written in a laid back and enthusiastic style ... After reading this book, I will certainly be on the look out for some of the curious effects described, camera at the ready!' Astronomy Now

'... a beautifully illustrated popular account of atmospheric phenomena.' Nature

'The overall text is well written, with clear explanations, and is properly integrated with the excellent illustrations. The latter, including some subtle effects, are reproduced accurately, and at a size that does justice to the phenomena involved.' Weather

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Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 29, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521468361
• ISBN-13: 978-0521468367
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,192,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable account of light in nature, May 15, 2002

By	Assaf Tal (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)

This book is intended for people who are intrigued or awed by the way light is expressed in nature. It describes many natural phenomena involving light, including shadows, the color of the sky, clouds, mirages, halos, rainbows, the effects of ice in the atmosphere and much more. The intended audience in my eyes consists mainly of people who like physics but the beautiful color full-page pictures and tips on taking them also make this book a great resource for anyone interested in photography. Even physics students can benefit from this book (although it is intended for laymen, so no equations are used) - the book shows them interesting manifestations of optics in nature. The book also makes a nice gift for people who enjoy nature and would like to know how it "works". Highly recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening, May 13, 2007

By	Under Exposed (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)

After reading this book, you will never look at the sky or the sea in the same way again. Accompanied by beautiful photographs, including some rare sights in the sky, the book systematically covers atmospheric phenomena related to light and colour. For photographers it's a great book that will help you understand light effects in nature. The book is resplendent in the spirit of science: the topics are classified by the type of explanation for them: shadows, reflection, refraction and so on. This makes perfect, natural sense and really holds the book together. Some of the explanations include modest equations, tables and so on, but the text is always lively and readable. If you're scared of mathematics, buy it for the pictures. But be warned: this book will inspire you to go to Antarctica, chase solar eclipses, buy a telescope, and demand a window seat on every plane you fly for the rest of your life.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A required reference..., March 17, 2005

By	Ken Walsh (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)

A wonderful book illustrating and describing numerous natural optical effects. Simply a must have on your shelf to whip out whenever something unusual plays out in your field of view. Entertaining to just take down and read as well.