Fully updated with the latest advances in meteorology as well as an additional section on climate change, this comprehensive reference addresses all aspects of weather in an accessible question-and-answer format. All the basic elements of weather are discussed, as are all types of weather phenomena and the science of forecasting. In addition, the relationships between weather and oceanography, geology, and space science are expertly covered. Included are more than 1,000 questions and answers such as, Has a hurricane ever struck southern California? Could our oceans have originated in space? and What is bioclimatology? This resource is an ideal reference for students, teachers, and amateur meteorologists.
Author(s): Kevin Hile
Series: The Handy Answer Book Series
Edition: 2
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 352
About the Author ......Page 2
Copyright ......Page 5
Contents ......Page 6
INTRODUCTION ......Page 8
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......Page 11
Terms to Know......Page 12
Organizations......Page 15
Measurements......Page 19
Early Weather History......Page 23
The Seasons......Page 29
Atmosphere Basics......Page 36
Air and Air Pressure......Page 39
Layers of the Atmosphere......Page 48
The Ozone Layer ......Page 50
Wind......Page 55
Wind Storms......Page 64
Measuring Temperature......Page 70
Heat......Page 76
Cold......Page 82
Clouds......Page 94
Precipitation......Page 102
Humidity......Page 109
Ice, Snow, Hail, and Frost......Page 112
STORMY WEATHER ......Page 128
Blizzards and Avalanches......Page 130
Hurricanes, Monsoons, and Tropical Storms ......Page 133
Floods......Page 148
Tornadoes......Page 152
Lightning......Page 170
Thunder and Thunderstorms......Page 182
Rainbows and Other Colorful Phenomena ......Page 188
Plate Tectonics ......Page 196
Rain, Ice, and Geography......Page 200
Volcanoes......Page 202
Oceanography and Weather ......Page 208
Ocean Currents......Page 211
WEATHER IN SPACE ......Page 216
The Moon ......Page 218
The Sun......Page 219
Sunspots and Solar Activity ......Page 227
The Magnetic Field......Page 233
Neutrinos......Page 236
Cosmic Rays......Page 238
Meteors, Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets......Page 240
Humanity’s Impact......Page 246
General Pollution Facts ......Page 248
Air Pollution......Page 250
Water Pollution......Page 261
Radiation......Page 265
Climate Basics......Page 268
Ice Ages......Page 273
Global Warming ......Page 277
Forecasting......Page 294
Radar......Page 303
Satellites......Page 308
Careers in Meteorology......Page 312
INDEX ......Page 320
