The Field Guide to Natural Phenomena: The Secret World of Optical, Atmospheric and Celestial Wonders

A vivid portrait of nature's most fascinating and unexpected events.

This is an illustrated guide to nature's most theatrical and mysterious events, from eclipses and the aurora borealis to rainbows and light pillars. Dr. Keith Heidorn combines engaging text with color photographs and line drawings to describe each phenomenon in simple, non-technical terms.

The field guide examines the origins and behaviors of natural phenomena and draws on science, history, folklore, travel and other disciplines. Some are familiar events, yet others are once-in-a-lifetime spectacles. They include:

• Optical phenomena, such as green flashes, crepuscular rays, coronas, mirages
  
• Atmospheric phenomena, such as dust devils, haboobs, lenticular clouds, "pea soupers"
  
• Electrical phenomena, such as ball lightning, St. Elmo's fire, will-o'-the-wisps
  
• Aquatic phenomena, such as ice circles, diamond dust, tidal bores, waterspouts
  
• Geological phenomena, such as stone arches, mud pots, petrified forests, salt lakes
  
• Celestial phenomena, such as meteors, comets, eclipses, the Milky Way

Sixteen identification guides detail the phenomena and how each occurs.

The Field Guide to Natural Phenomena provides specific information for general readers and weather watchers about where and when nature puts on these creative performances.

Keith C. Heidorn, PhD, is a renowned meteorologist and a member of the American Meteorological Society and the Canadian Meteorology and Oceanographic Society. He is the author of two books, including And Now the Weather.

Ian Whitelaw is the author of several books, including A Measure of All Things: The Story of Man and Measurement. He currently lives on Vancouver Island, Canada.