The Handy Weather Answer Book

by Kevin Hile

Overview

Hurricanes and Tornadoes. Climate Change. Global Warming. Droughts and so much more. Answers to over 1,000 questions about the basic elements of weather, the latest advances in meteorology, the science of forecasting, and all types of weather phenomena.

Weather. We all talk about it – some more expertly than others. With The Handy Weather Answer Book, anyone can master this compelling conversation starter, whether it’s weather basics, climate change, the science of meteorology, or the history of weather forecasting. You will come to understand hurricanes, tornadoes, global warming, and such fascinating weather-related phenomena as the northern lights and El Niño.

This comprehensive reference addresses all aspects of weather in an accessible question-and-answer format. Relationships between weather and oceanography, geology, and space science are expertly covered, including answers to such questions as …

What’s the difference between “partly sunny” and “partly cloudy”?

Can a rainbow appear during the night?

Could our oceans have originated in space?

How does Central America affect the climate in England?

What the heck is bioclimatology?

Are humans really responsible for climate change?

Has a hurricane ever struck southern California?

Climate change and weather affect us all, and The Handy Weather Answer Book, with its hard science facts, fascinating trivia, and accessible Q&A dialog, ensures that readers will understand the complexities of our planet’s dynamic atmosphere a lot better. This resource is an ideal reference for everyone from students to teachers to amateur meteorologists. With more than 100 color photos and illustrations, this tome is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578592210
Publisher:	Visible Ink Press
Publication date:	08/01/2009
Series:	The Handy Answer Book Series
Edition description:	Second Edition, Second edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Kevin S. Hile is a California-based author and editor who has written books on a wide range of subjects. He wrote Visible Ink Press' The Handy California Answer Book and The Handy Weather Answer Book, and as an editor, he has worked with Visible Ink on a variety of history and science-related books, including The Handy Anatomy Answer Book, The Handy History Answer Book, The Handy Physics Answer Book, and The Handy Science Answer Book.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Acknowledgments x

Index 309

Weather Fundamentals 1

Terms to Know

Organizations

Measurements

Early Weather History

The Seasons

The Atmosphere 25

Atmosphere Basics

Air and Air Pressure

Layers of the Atmosphere

The Ozone Layer

Wind

Wind Storms

Heat and Cold

Measuring Temperature

Heat

Cold 59

Clouds and Precipitation 83

Clouds

Precipitation

Humidity

Floods

Ice, Snow, Hail, and Frost

Stormy Weather 117

Blizzards and Avalanches

Hurricanes, Monsoons, and Tropical Storms

Floods

Tornadoes

Atmospheric Phenomena

Lightning

Thunder and Thunderstorms

Rainbows and Other Colorful Phenomena 159

Geography, Oceanography, and Weather

Plate Tectonics

Rain, Ice, and Geography

Volcanoes

Geography, Oceanography and Weather 185

Ocean Currents

Weather In Space

The Moon

The Sun

Sunspots and Solar Activity

The Magnetic Field

Van Allen Belts

Neutrinos

Cosmic Rays

Meteors, Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets 205

Humanity And The Weather 235

Humanity's Impact

General Pollution Facts

Facts

Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Radiation

Climate Change

Climate Basics

Ice Ages

Global Warming 257

Modern Meteorology

Forecasting

Radar

Satellites

Careers in Meteorology 283

Editorial Reviews

"This entertaining work is a collection more than 1,000 questions and answers on weather written in nontechnical language for the general reader."— American Reference Books

"This fully updated primer on all things related to weather includes the latest advances in meteorology as well as an additional section on climate change. It addresses all aspects of weather in an accessible question-and-answer format."— Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

"A fun reference book to look through, garner interesting information, and get an overview of a multitude of facts about weather. With an attractive cover, engaging layout and format, this book will be one that students with an interest in the subject will pick up and enjoy."— Christian Library Journal

"Updated to include the latest advances in meteorology and climate change, a comprehensive reference covers all of the basic elements of weather and weather phenomena as well as the science of forecasting, in a guide that also evaluates the relationships between weather and oceanography, geology, and space science."— Forecast magazine

"The Handy Weather Answer Book is full of all sorts of weather stuff. For instance, do you know what irisation is? It's a sort of diffused rainbow created when altocumulus clouds pass below the sun."— The Arizona Republic

"Designed to stimulate further reading ... Readers from the junior high level and up will find this book enjoyable."— The Science Teacher

"Well written at a level that is enjoyable to everyone. I highly recommend this book to any lay reader, weather watcher or atmospheric professional."— The Weather Doctor

From the Publisher

This fully updated primer on all things related to weather includes the latest advances in meteorology as well as an additional section on climate change. It addresses all aspects of weather in an accessible question-and-answer format.

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

This entertaining work is a collection more than 1,000 questions and answers on weather written in nontechnical language for the general reader.

American Reference Books Annual

Updated to include the latest advances in meteorology and climate change, [this] comprehensive reference covers all of the basic elements of weather and weather phenomena as well as the science of forecasting, in a guide that also evaluates the relationships between weather and oceanography, geology, and space science.

Forecast Magazine

Hile, author of several similar Answer Book titles, has compiled an attractive Q&A volume on weather in 11 chapters, illustrated with crisp color photos; large, easy-to-read text; and keywords in questions in bold font. The chapters cover "Weather Fundamentals," "The Atmosphere," "Heat and Cold," "Clouds and Precipitation," "Stormy Weather," "Atmospheric Phenomena," "Geography, Oceanography, and Weather," "Weather in Space," "Humanity and the Weather," "Climate Change," and "Modern Meteorology." The questions are short, and the answers are mostly about a paragraph long. The major problem with this volume is the index. For example, both the introduction and the back cover refer to the crash of the Space Shuttle Challenger, but the entry on Challenger could not be found in the index. There are index listings both for NASA and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but they list different page numbers. A thorough and well-done index is critical to the use of a Q&A work for reference, and this volume is lacking in this important area. BOTTOM LINE Although this title might get some use in a circulating collection, a good weather encyclopedia would better serve librarians and their patrons. An optional purchase at best.—Rosanne M. Cordell, Indiana Univ. South Bend Lib.

Library Journal