Understanding Weather and Climate (2nd Edition)

Written in an exceptionally clear, informal style filled with anecdotes and examples, this introduction to meteorology emphasizes a non-mathematical understanding of physical principles as a vehicle for learning about atmospheric processes. It focuses on explaining--rather than simply describing--the processes that produce Earth's weather and climate, and provides special emphasis on severe weather and how it impacts humans. An accompanying CD-ROM features a series of tutorials, illustrative movie loops, interactive animations, and more that explain difficult-to-visualize topics. A companion Web site offers additional resources. Features current coverage on a wide variety of topics: composition and structure of the atmosphere; solar radiation and the seasons; energy balance and temperature; atmospheric moisture; cloud development and forms; precipitation processes; atmospheric pressure and wind; atmospheric circulation and pressure distributions; air masses and fronts; mid-latitude cyclones; lightning, thunder, and tornadoes; tropical storms and hurricanes; weather forecasting and analysis; human effects: air pollution and heat islands; earth's climates; climate changes. For anyone interested in an accessible introduction to Meteorology.

• Tutorials, three-dimensional diagrams and animations ease the presentation of difficult-to-visualize material. Topics include: —Solar Geometry
—Atmospheric Moisture —The Coriolis Force —Wind and Pressure Aloft —Global Energy Balance —Adiabatic Processes —Atmosheric Forces and Motion —Cyclones and Anticyclones —Weather in Motion movies, depict events and phenomena discussed in the text.
• Weather Images, provide additional illustrations of weather phenomena. These include photographs, satellite images, and computer diagrams that complement the text.
• Media Library provides additional resources for self-guided browsing by the student.
• Student Activities are short interactive exercises. These exercises cover important topics such as hurricanes and earth-sun relations and are prefaced by the Media Enrichment boxes included in the text.