In The Secret World of Weather, bestselling author Tristan Gooley turns his gaze up to the sky, bringing his signature brand of close observation and eye-opening deduction to the fascinating world of weather. Every cloud, every change in temperature, every raindrop, every sunbeam, every breeze reveals something about our weather--if you know what to look for. Before you know it, you'll be able to forecast impending storms, sunny days, and everything in between, all without needing to consult your smartphone.

But The Secret World of Weather goes far beyond mere weather prediction, changing the very way we think about weather itself. Weather is not something that blankets an area; rather, it changes constantly as you walk through woods or turn down a street. The weather is never identical on two sides of a tree--or even beneath it. Take, for example, Gooley's remarkable discovery that breezes accelerate beneath a tree. To Gooley, this is weather, a tiny microclimate that explains why people sit beneath a tree to cool down--not only for the shade but, subconsciously, for cooler breeze. And so Gooley shows us not only what the weather will be like five days from now, but also what to expect about the weather around every corner.

By carefully observing the subtle interplay of wind, cloud, fog, temperature, rain and many other phenomena, we not only form a deeper understanding of weather patterns, but also unlock secrets about our environment. Weather forms our landscape, and landscape forms our weather. Everything we see in the sky reflects where we are. When we learn to read weather's signs, Gooley shows us, the weather becomes our map, revealing to us how it has made our towns, cities, woods, and hills what they are. You'll never see your surroundings the same way again.

The unprecedented inside story of the people pushing boundaries of science and technology to build better weather forecasts--providing life-saving warnings and crucial intelligence about nature's deadliest threats

Killer tornadoes. Catastrophic hurricanes. Lethal heat waves. Across the United States and around the world, extreme weather events bring an unending torrent of death and destruction. One indispensable tool consistently offers the ability to help reduce the impact of these calamities: the weather forecast. For centuries, humans have sought to foretell nature's next moves, from ancient farmers to trailblazers of the Space Age, who brought computers and satellites to bear on the problem. Now a new wave of advances, including artificial intelligence and data-gathering drones, makes it possible to accurately detect these fearsome events further in advance. They provide critical time to prepare and get people out of harm's way--an undertaking made ever more urgent by the effects of climate change.

In a remarkable tale of innovation and perseverance, veteran journalist Thomas E. Weber takes readers into the world of the pioneers creating these game-changing forecasts. From storm chasers racing to hunt twisters and physicists unraveling the secrets of the atmosphere, from scientists studying how people react to warnings to humanitarian groups rushing to avert famines, Weber goes behind the scenes to show how predictions keep getting better. He explains what's needed to turn these forecasts into actions that prevent tragedies and how anyone can become more weather literate to protect themselves in emergencies. Cloud Warriors will change the way you think about treacherous weather--and the power of being able to see it coming.

The perfect incentive for keeping your head in the clouds, The Cloud Collector's Handbook is a whimsical guide to the wonders of the sky. Throughout, author and cloud expert Gavin Pretor-Pinney catalogs a variety of clouds and gives readers points for spotting them and recording their finds. This fun and useful book features gorgeous full-color photographs that showcase a new type of cloud on every spread, from fluffy cumulus to the super rare horseshoe vortex to the wispy noctilucent clouds that hang at the fringes of space. Sure to be a hit with both aspiring and seasoned cloud gazers, this clever handbook will have everyone looking up.

Now in paperback: the runaway British bestseller that has cloudspotters everywhere looking up.

Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Veteran journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies.

Illustrated with striking photographs (including a new section in full-color) and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, The Cloudspotter's Guide will have enthusiasts, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine.

Amateur weather forecasters (which includes just about everyone) will find this volume an informative and entertaining account of the why and how of the weather. -- The Nation
In simple language, Eric Sloane explains the whys and wherefores of weather and weather forecasting -- and does it in a style that's universally appealing.
With humor and common sense shining through in a book that's also lively and informative, Sloane shows readers how to predict the weather by reading such natural phenomena as winds, skies, and animal sounds. This beautifully illustrated and practical treasure trove of climate lore will enlighten outdoorsmen, farmers, sailors, and anyone else who has ever wondered what a large halo around the moon means, why birds sit it out before a storm, and whether or not to take an umbrella when leaving the house.

Ride across California on the back of the wind and learn about the dramatic impact that seasonal weather and climate change have on the Golden State.

Selby's greatest gift to readers is to reveal the climate as an indomitable equalizer. --Los Angeles Times

Often stereotyped as the land of unflaggingly perfect weather, California has a world-renowned reputation for sunny blue skies and infinitely even-keeled temperatures. But the real story of the state's weather is vastly more complex. From the scorching heat of Death Valley to the coastal redwoods' dripping in dew, California is home to a dizzying array of landscapes and bespoke weather patterns. In The California Sky Watcher, earth scientist William A. Selby takes readers on a journey through the seasons and across the state, exploring the atmospheric science that connects us all under our single sky dome.

With more than 125 photographs, diagrams, and explanatory charts, Selby guides us through the grand cycles that govern the world we see, feel, and hear every day, from the cirrus clouds that swirl overhead to the breezes that beckon us outside. Unraveling the mysteries behind the state's fog, floods, fires, droughts, and snowstorms, Selby shares his love affair with the sky and reveals what these changeable energies forecast for the future of California's climate.

A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-size exploration of the world's weather

Packed with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile anyone who is curious about weather. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Weather is an accessible and enjoyable mini-reference about the world's weather, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics--from weather forecasting and extreme events such as hurricanes and typhoons to the future of weather with climate change. It also includes curious facts, myths, and history--from whether animals can predict the weather to the bad weather that helped doom Napoleon and Hitler's invasions of Russia and the Soviet Union. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing world of weather.

• A beautifully designed pocket-size book with a foil-stamped cloth cover
• Features some 140 color illustrations and photos
• Makes a perfect gift

This pocket-size field guide to snowflakes is perfect for science- and weather-loving readers who are curious about these beautiful ice crystals.

Snowflakes begin as water vapor in the air. Just add a pinch of dust, an icy-cold temperature and, like magic, you've got a delicate, crystalline snowflake.

In this pocket-size guide to the secret world of snowflakes, you'll learn the science behind these one-of-a-kind natural masterpieces. The book's pages contain stunning microphotography, descriptions of common snowflake types, and information about snowflakes' complex structures and patterns.

The next time the forecast calls for snow, you can grab this snowflake field guide and explore the natural beauty of snowflakes as they fall around you. Thanks to this book, you'll predict when the most beautiful crystals are likely to fall, and you'll know how you can best observe and photograph them.

A comprehensive text on how to take weather into account for the planning and navigation of voyages, local or global, using the latest technologies as well as the time-honored skills of maritime tradition, so that your time on the water remains as safe and efficient as possible. Covers practical applications of GRIB files, ASCAT wind measurements, and other modern resources.

It's the definitive bible on storm chasing, updated in 2008 The Storm Chasing Handbook examines the hobby of storm chasing - the people, the philosophy, and the equipment. Using key findings from the past four decades of scientific literature, readers learn the inner workings of severe weather and dabble with the fundamentals of forecasting techniques, blended with wisdom from the author's own experiences. From target area and storm type prediction to successful, safe navigation, the Storm Chasing Handbook has it covered. A large appendix features a Great Plains travel guide covering local history, culture, meteorology, and geology for nearly 100 chase routes, dining recommendations, broadcast radio and NOAA weather maps, an almanac of past chase seasons, special telephone numbers for reporting severe weather, and a list of recommended videos, books, websites, and references. If you're heading into the field or you just have an interest in severe weather forecasting, Storm Chasing Handbook is the book you can't afford to be without.

A delightful blend of serious meteorology and beautiful illustrations, this informative book displays the many talents of Eric Sloane. A writer, landscape painter, weather forecaster, and authority on early American history, Sloane takes readers with him on a voyage of discovery as he traces a single air mass from the Canadian Rockies to northern New England. A vivid narrative and the author's own pen-and-ink sketches describe the progress of the air mass over America, and tell about its encounters with other elements of weather systems and with Americans from a variety of backgrounds.

Your Guide to Watching Clouds and Understanding the Weather

From the soothing sound of rain to the shrill whistle of a blizzard, from the house-shaking rumble of thunder to the violent fury of a hurricane, weather is a fascinating part of our lives. We watch it. We listen to it. We feel it. We try to predict it. But how well do we truly understand it?

Professional meteorologist Ryan Henning presents Field Guide to the Weather, a handy reference to meteorology and to the types of weather phenomena that one might encounter at home or in nature. It includes a simple introduction to the basics of meteorology--explaining the aspects of the atmosphere that dictate how weather works. From there, the field guide looks at a variety of individual weather topics: cloud formation (and cloud-type identification), various forms of precipitation, and much more. The author goes on to discuss government-issued watches and warnings, and weather safety. Plus, readers are sure to appreciate the book's helpful guide to interpreting weather forecasts and available model information when planning an afternoon picnic or next week's vacation.

Field Guide to the Weather is a perfect introduction to the science of weather. The information is captivating for kids and adults alike. The simple explanations are useful in easing the mind of a frightened child, and the in-depth details help adults learn to understand and prepare for the weather ahead.

• 30 black-and-white line art images to color
• Illustrations include iconic Pacific Northwest flora, fauna, national parks, and more
• Compact size for taking on road trips, camping weekends, and hikes

Throw this into your pack and color at your lake destination during lunch or in your tent at last light. Adult coloring books are hugely popular and for good reason--they calm the mind and ease our creative souls. Nature provides its own stress-free and mindful influence; this little, joy-filled book gives outdoor lovers another way to tap into that focus and appreciate their natural surroundings.

Lida Enche is an artist, teacher, and nature lover from Seattle. Much of her work consists of vibrant, color-splashed paintings, inspired by the tremendous joy she feels while creating art. For this new project, a coloring book specific to the Pacific Northwest landscape, she encourages would-be colorists to experience that same joy and to find their own inspirations and calming influences in the region's outstanding natural beauty.

Enche referenced a variety of field guides to accurately depict beargrass and black bears, sea stars and sword ferns, bald eagles and berries. Our national parks--North Cascades, Mount Rainier, Olympic, and Crater Lake--as well as a range of recognizable Northwest habitats, all make an appearance too! She adds a slightly stylized approach to her line art that will inspire people of all ages to pick up their colored pencils, markers, or crayons and relax into a scene.

This workbook is designed to accompany the text Modern Marine Weather by David Burch (First or Second Edition). It can also be used by those who have learned marine weather from other sources. It provides questions and answers for all aspects of marine weather. This workbook is used in training programs around the US. These are practical questions that every mariner should know the answer to. It is a through overview of the subject. Anyone who answers all of these questions can be confident that they have a firm and practical grasp of marine weather that will enhance their interpretation and planning around the weather. Sections on weather map reading are included. There are multiple choice questions as well as short essay questions all with complete answers. The section called Points to Ponder along with their answers provide a summary of the key decisions that must be made in practical marine weather, both in planning and underway. The book is designed for all mariners, recreational and professional. The level of training covered exceeds that required for any certification or professional license exam.

A one-of-a-kind illustrated guide to clouds, cloud formations, and the artists who painted them

The mystery of clouds has captivated scientists and artists alike. This unique book shows you how to use the meteorological techniques of nephology to identify these elusive and transmutable shapes. It curates, classifies, and measures every species--including those recently discovered--considering the height, size, texture, arrangement, modifications, and movement of their many shifting forms. Clouds blends a lively and engaging narrative by one of today's leading meteorologists with an essay on historic cloud art, and includes a wealth of breathtaking cloud studies by some of the greatest artists ever to look skyward.

• Presents a taxonomic approach to identification, applying the basic laws of geometry to quantify and measure clouds and cloud formations
• Showcases artists who painted clouds from a scientific viewpoint, such as John Constable, Frederic Edwin Church, J.M.W. Turner, and Caspar David Friedrich
• Tells the stories of the physicists and painters who have attempted to record the many different incarnations of clouds
• Explains the physics of clouds, from the basic constituents of Earth's atmosphere to cloud formation and dissipation, the colors and shades of clouds, the development of precipitation, and the timescale evolution of clouds
• Discusses the classification and naming of clouds
• Serves as a user-friendly reference guide to low, midlevel, and high cloud species
• Includes charts, infographics, and a glossary of terms

The Weather Forecasting Red Book is a groundbreaking reference that breaks away from theory and helps forecasters tackle everyday prediction problems. The book contains a wealth of information on real-life techniques, methods, and forecast systems. It draws upon a wealth of experience collected by the weather services of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The first section deals with observational systems, explaining what quantities of wind, temperature, and pressure really mean. The analysis section defines standards and conventions for weather maps. The forecasting section has over a hundred pages of techniques, methods, patterns, and basic ideas and principles. And in the numerical model section, key details of the latest models are explained. It's written by a forecaster for forecasters. If it's needed at the forecast desk, it's in here.

This is the ultimate guidebook for anyone who needs to know the details of operational weather analysis and forecasting, not just theoretical aspects and basic concepts. It is geared toward meteorology professionals, students, pilots, flight dispatchers, amateurs, storm chasers, and spotters.

Basic physical concepts are reviewed, and then the book covers thermodynamics, surface analysis, and upper analysis. There is a thorough overview of weather systems, including their thermal structure, dynamics, and effects. Special problems such as severe thunderstorms, supercell prediction, and tornado forecasting are treated in detail.

The margins are filled with forecasting facts, hard-hitting quotes, educational stories, and even a few fun weather jokes. With added emphasis on analysis, visualization, and awareness of model limitations, readers learn to use tools properly and are always a step ahead.

Weather Map Handbook is a guidebook and encyclopedia of the most common weather forecasting charts used in operational forecasting in the 2010s. It's written by a veteran forecaster for forecasters. All of the products are available on centralized systems like AWIPS and on the Internet on servers run by central weather agencies. Using a double-page format, the Weather Map Handbook demonstrates nearly every type of weather map, image, and product in common use. An overview of each item's origin, purpose, shortfalls, and tips are outlined. Standards for analysis symbology and chart markings are summarized. The surface, 850 mb, 700 mb, 500 mb, and 300-200 mb charts get two pages each, complete with philosophy, objectives, and techniques for each chart. Thickness, isentropic, and Q vector products get their own sections. The WSR-88D doppler radar, in use by the United States weather services, has played a vast part in the weather information revolution. In the Weather Map Handbook, it gets an entire section ranging from reflectivity, velocity, and spectrum width to dual-polarization products. Some of the details provided in this book are obscure and nearly impossible to find. From the workings of the Composite Reflectivity product to the exact process used by the Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm to deconstruct a radar scan, any NEXRAD radar product on the Internet can be understood. From the NAM to the HRRR, from the GFS to the ECMWF, forecasters get grounded in the history and configuration of numerical forecast model. Ensemble forecasts are highlighted. The satellite chapter explains visible, infrared, and water vapor imagery, how it's created, and how to interpret it. Even the METAR, TAF, SYNOP, and radiosonde formats get their own sections, complete with decoding instructions. Whether you're a hobbyist, private forecaster, a professional, or a student, the Weather Map Handbook is the book you can't be without.

This Peterson First guide contains easy-to-understand answers to questions about the weather, such as why the sky is blue, what makes it rain, and what causes rainbows. The book also features 116 color photographs that show how to identify clouds, with explanations of what each cloud type tells about the weather to come.

With Internet weather data growing at exponential rates, dual-polarization radar systems coming online, enthusiasts flocking to storm chasing by the hundreds, and great strides being made in storm forecasting, the time has come for a comprehensive book on predicting these dangerous weather occurrences. Severe Storm Forecasting is the perfect title for the forecast desk. Examine the latest in storm structure, look up the ideal precursors for hail and tornadoes, study up on hodographs and soundings, and take a close look at weather analysis and diagnosis. There's no calculus in this book, no fanciful tornado stories, and no oversimplification of advanced concepts. Pick up this book and step into the severe thunderstorm forecast office of the 2010s. Tim Vasquez is an experienced aviation weather and storm chase forecaster, works as an author, consultant, and programmer, and has appeared on CBS Evening News, BBC, and The Weather Channel as an expert on aviation weather.