DC Public Library System

Weather

eng

Includes bibliographical references (p. 280) and index

illustrationsportraits

no index present

non fiction

Weather

276780726

Eyewitness Companions

Presents an introduction to meteorology and the weather, discussing atmospheric conditions, clouds, precipitation, storms, climate zones, forecasting, measurement, and climate change

HISTORY OF WEATHER. Prehistoric climates -- Religion and folklore -- Climates in ancient times -- Medieval climate changes -- Warfare and exploration -- The Scientific Revolution -- Weather in the modern era -- Weather and world affairs -- The science of meteorology -- Mapping the weather -- Military meteorology -- Weather and society today -- HOW WEATHER WORKS. The earth's energy source (the sun, solar radiation) -- Composition of the atmosphere -- Heating the atmosphere -- How energy is transferred -- Global energy transfer -- Air masses -- Weather fronts -- Highs and lows -- Convergence and divergence -- The Coriolis effect -- Global circulation patterns -- Upper circulation and jet streams -- Evaporation and condensation -- Global precipitation patterns -- WEATHER PHENOMENA. Clouds -- Precipitation -- Rain, snow, ice pellets, and hail -- Dew and frost -- Low visibility -- Cyclones & storms -- Hurricane Katrina -- Frontal depressions -- Bombs -- Thunder & Lightning -- Optical effects -- Tornadoes -- Tornado alley -- Flash floods -- WORLD CLIMATES. Climate zones -- Humid, tropical climates -- Case study: South America -- Subtropical, arid climates -- Temperate climates -- Mediterranean climates -- Cold, continental interior climates -- Polar climates -- Local climates -- El Niño -- North Atlantic oscillation -- Urban microclimates -- How local winds form -- Mountain climates -- Climate extremes -- WEATHER FORECASTING. The science of forecasting -- gathering weather data -- Remote sensing -- Weather instruments -- Computer forecasting -- Ensemble forecasting -- The short to medium term -- The season ahead -- Broadcasting the weather -- Weather in the news -- Forecasts for sailing -- Forecasts for aviation -- Forecasts in sports -- ...for farming -- ...for industry -- Weather and health -- Amateur forecasting -- Home weather station -- Weather sayings -- Watching the wind -- Cloud watching - Atmospheric stability -- CLIMATE CHANGE. Climate monitoring -- Evidence of global warming -- The human contribution -- Climate modeling -- Modeling recent change -- Predicting future climates -- Extreme events -- Dangerous, sudden change -- Impact on life and earth -- Tackling climate change -- Lobbying for change -- Sustainable energy -- Low-carbon solutions -- Geoengineering