A comprehensive guide to the weather, climate, and their impact on human life. This comprehensive reference explains in clear terms what we know about weather, from the everyday to the extreme. A Student Guide to Climate and Weather introduces students and other interested readers to the dynamic work of meteorologists and climatologists, specifically their efforts to mitigate the impact of weather events and climate change on people and the environment. The five separate volumes of A Student Guide to Climate and Weather focus on weather extremes; air masses and weather patterns; cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes; climate change; and the Earth and the sun. Each volume combines a wealth of scientific data, dramatic historical events, and the latest ideas and methods from the worlds of meteorology and climatology. What did we learn from the Dust Bowl? What are the consequences of Arctic melting? How do we protect cities near oceans from rising sea levels? These and other crucial questions are explored in this cornerstone reference.

From deciding the best day for a picnic, to the devastating effects of hurricanes and typhoons, the weather impacts our lives on a daily basis. Although new techniques allow us to forecast the weather with increasing accuracy, most people do not realise the vast global movements and forces which result in their day-to-day weather. In this Very Short Introduction Storm Dunlop explains what weather is and how it differs from climate, discussing what causes weather, and how we measure it. Analysing the basic features and properties of the atmosphere, he shows how these are directly related to the weather experienced on the ground, and to specific weather phenomena and extreme weather events. He describes how the global patterns of temperature and pressure give rise to the overall circulation within the atmosphere, the major wind systems, and the major oceanic currents, and how features such as mountains and the sea affect local weather. He also looks at examples of extreme and dangerous weather, such as of tropical cyclones (otherwise known as hurricanes and typhoons), describing how 'Hurricane Hunters' undertake the dangerous task of flying through them. We measure weather in a number of ways: observations taken on the land and sea; observations within the atmosphere; and measurements from orbiting satellites. Dunlop concludes by looking at how these observations have been used to develop increasingly sophisticated long- and short-range weather forecasting, including ensemble forecasting. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.