I remember well the first book that I ever consulted to try to understand weather more completely. It was Weather and Bird Behaviour by Norman Elkins, and it has been consulted many times since in my quest to better understand bird distribution, migration and their response to adverse weather events. That book, first published in 1983, now seems almost quaint in some sections, and Elkins could have barely envisioned the immense power of modern computers, coupled with artificial intelligence, to predict current weather with impressive accuracy. From long term forecasts, to the precise time and location of a hurricane making landfall, along with its wind speed, meteorology has advanced in quantum leaps.
Adam Scaife in this Little Book of Weather does a tremendous job of bringing us up to speed with the latest technology and the projected sophistication still to come.
Along the way he reviews the history of meteorology as a science, and notes the steps that have brought us to where we are today. We are introduced to weather luminaries, many of whom have given their name to atmospheric phenomena, e.g. Milankovitch Cycles, Hadley Cells, and others.
A full understanding is gained of events like El Niño and La Niña, terms bandied about at will, yet probably poorly understood by many. The hydrology cycle is explained and the way in which anthropogenic practices are interfering with it. Deforestation is contributing to changes in the distribution of moisture around the world and increasing ocean temperatures are the forerunners of more intense and more frequent hurricanes and cyclones.
The book is nicely illustrated by Claudia Myatt, a British illustrator with a particular penchant for scenes of the sea.
Scaife discusses the inextricable link between weather and the food supply, the health of the soil, the frequency of pest outbreaks. Sadly, past mismanagement, outright abuse and profligacy of the most egregious kind seems unlikely to change any time soon. We seem resolutely determined to resist learning from our mistakes and correcting course.
There are nations where absolute denial of the climate crisis is the default position of the day, and even in those where our perilous position is acknowledged, remediation is slow to occur. In the meantime, consideration is being given to adding a Category 6 to hurricanes, in recognition of the manner in which we have altered the the structure of the biosphere, making the potential for such terrifying storms an exponentially increasing possibility.
There is much more in this little book. Since weather affects all of us and no one is immune from climate systems gone awry, it is essential reading. Be sure to get your copy.
The Little Book of Weather - Princeton University Press
Adam Scaife
Hardback - $15.95 USD - ISBN: 9780691259994
160 pages - 3.75 x 6 inches (9.375 x 15 cm)
140 Colour illustrations
Publication date: 22 October, 2024
..I get El Niño and La Niña mixed up!
ReplyDeleteI am quite sure you are not alone, Tom.
DeleteIt sounds like a very interesting book, David. Lovely illustrations too. The weather is changing very fast, and it have been more frightening all the time. Hurricane category 6 sounds awful. I hope it won't be like that.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
Category 5 is already terrifying, Marit.
DeleteThe weather affects us all but how I wish that we didn't affect the weather. We did, and we do.
ReplyDeleteMore and more.
DeleteThis is right up my alley. I have always been fascinated by weather and its causes and effects.
ReplyDeleteThen you need to get your hands on a copy!
DeleteOur weather certainly affects our very existence. This little book sounds informative. My Daddy used to talk about deforestation and its perils many years ago. I believe he was on to something.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely was!
DeleteI can't understand people who deny climate change.
ReplyDeleteYou may be electing one!
DeleteI own a few of the "little books" and find them all well-written and very informative. This sounds like one I need to add to my collection.
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations are beautiful and it does sound like a very interesting book.
ReplyDeleteI am always fascinated by the weather.
ReplyDeletePeople who still do not want to see that the weather is changing a lot I call climate idiots.
They are not interested but do not think about the consequences.
I wish you a beautiful Sunday.
Greetings Irma
Hi David - thanks for this ... I'd seen it was one of 'your Little ...' so I'm delighted to read your review - it does sound very informative and entrancing, as well as reminding us we can help our planet. I hope people start to pay attention ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAh, paying attention. Now there’s a vain hope, Hilary.
DeleteWhat a great little book to own.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the cutting of our forests and the trees here in Florida, the paving of the land we have and climate change are making the storms worse and worse. and replanting small trees after bulldozing large old ones doesn't help. I am a tree hugger and would be doing that if not to old. about our birds after the 2 hurricanes. I have only seen 2 birds since the storms, 2 jays in the front tree yesterday, even our lizards are missing. we have hundreds of them and I have only seen two since the storm also the missing gap of our pine tree gives them less places to roost, everything we od to this earth messes with the way it was intended to be
ReplyDeleteYou know only too well what weather can do, Sandra. I hope that you are continuing to recover.
DeleteA great book, my hubby likes anything about weather. Take care, have a wonderful week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHe’d enjoy this one then.
DeleteThis one sounds very interesting, David. I'm intrigued by weather (and baffled, confused and a bit frightened of it all, too, these days!) Thanks for the tip. In fact, I might also get this one as a gift for a weather-crazy friend!
ReplyDeleteAnd it’s very reasonably priced, Jeanie.
DeleteThis seems like a fascinating, very informative, and useful book!
ReplyDeleteMy very first weather book was specific--I was terrified of thunderstorms when I was a small child and my mother's explanation that thunder happened because 'the angels were bowling' (!) wasn't working for me even then. So I turned to a book. My father bought me one called Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll (I think), which I read to learn what was really going on when thunderstorms occurred. Once I understood it, I wasn't scared anymore. Looking back, I chuckle at how my 5 or 6 year old self was already doing what I would continue to do for so many decades to come--look for answers in a book. :-)
We were (and are) both doing the same thing, Shari.
DeleteDavid, kiitos kirjan esittelystä. Se on kooltaan pieni, mutta sisältää paljon asiaa!
ReplyDelete...important reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the introduction David.
Dear Sunday greetings. I hope the bread is in the oven :-))) I'm now stirring in bread - whole wheat sourdough
A hug for both of you.
I notice nowaday that my daily forecast actually tells me how long rain will last, to the minute. And pretty accurate. Now, that's granular!
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing, isn’t it?
DeleteYour last two posts remind me that the man who first suggested that weather forecasting might be possible, Capt Fitzroy of Charles Darwin and The Beagle fame, also had something wise to say about dinosaurs "The reason they died out was that they were too big to fit in Noah's Ark"! There must have been some interesting discussions on board of The Beagle.
ReplyDeleteI actually recently re-read "The Voyage of the Beagle." Darwin and Fitzroy had an interesting and sometimes contentious relationship - and that may be putting it mildly!
DeleteIt looks like a good book to read. These Little Books you keep featuring are good. I am so tempted to get them. :-D
ReplyDeleteThe weather is certainly an interesting topic.
These little books are quite wonderful.
DeleteSounds like a great book to have.
ReplyDeleteThat collection is wonderful, each one better and prettier.
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening with the climate is terrible.
Un abrazo David
The older I get (OK this may sound cliche) the more fascinating weather becomes. This book sounds good. I read a book about clouds a couple of years back, which was fascinating. What's interesting is even though we live with weather all the time, how many new things there are to discover.
ReplyDeleteNot cliché at all, Erika. As I get older my curiosity increases not diminishes. I hope it will always be that way.
DeleteMe parece un libro muy interesante. Besos.
ReplyDelete