Weather

You know that: the ice caps are melting; the seasons are changing; sea levels are rising; and, storms are on the increase. But what can you DO about it? ...PLENTY! This book puts the power back into your hands in the face of the doom and gloom of climate change. You don't have to wait for 'someone else to sort it out'; rather than worry and feel helpless, you can get up and do something. "Climate Change" is packed with ideas for action, from simple everyday things which cost nothing, to bigger projects which involve more time and money. For example: get on your bike; buy local food; turn off your TV; insulate your loft; recycle and compost; take the train; turn down the heat; and, install solar panels. Do your bit and protect the planet for today and tomorrow.

'The clouds are nature's poetry, and the most egalitarian of her displays, since everyone has an equally fantastic view of them. Clouds are for dreamers, and their contemplation benefits the soul. Yet their beauty is so everyday as to be in danger of being overlooked ...' Gavin Pretor Pinney is the chairman and founder member of the Cloud Appreciation Society. He contends that we are blessed in this country with a uniquely rich and varied cloudscape, which has hitherto been sadly undervalued. His book teaches us to appreciate their different varieties -- the cumulus, nimbostratus and Morning Glory to name only a few -- and all their beauties and significances, both meteorological and cultural. We learn how Hindus believed the cumulus clouds were the spiritual cousins of elephants, how thermal air currents act on fair weather cumuli, and how to save a fortune in psychiatric bills by using the clouds as Rorschach images that reflect our state of mind as well as nature's moods. Looking up will never be the same again.

ISBN: 9780340895900

A compact introduction to observing, predicting, and understanding the weather This handy little guide provides the perfect introduction to what is happening in the sky, come rain or shine. Different weather conditions are all illustrated, so you can look through the pictures to identify what you have seen, or if you know the type of cloud or phenomenon that interests you, Gem Weather will tell you much more about it. A helpful glossary explains any technical or scientific terms you may not be familiar with. The book starts by teaching you how to recognise basic cloud types, and from there some of the variations you may encounter. Becoming familiar with these and understanding why they occur is a practical way to begin making your own weather predictions. Then winds, precipitation, other optical phenomena and weather fronts are all explained, providing all you need to know to understand satellite images and how the weather is forecast. Extreme and severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, are finally included because they help to illustrate the range of weather events and explain some of the processes that occur in the atmosphere. All weather conditions, clouds and optical phenomena are fully illustrated with colour photographs, and there are practical explanations of how the weather is forecast and how to read weather maps. This bestselling natural history gem is an ideal pocket reference for budding meteorologists, and an accessible introduction to the subject for beginners of all ages.

ISBN: 9780007190225