Today's book recommendation is "The Secret World of Weather" by Tristan Gooley (2021).
Before we can begin to understand climate change and all its ramifications, we should have a basic grasp of how weather actually works. This book is a very nice introduction to everyday weather effects that we see and feel all around us daily.
Why does it sometimes cool down at night, but sometimes does not? What do the changing shapes of clouds tell us about upcoming weather? What difference is there between wind direction at ground level and winds up at cloud level? How do clouds actually form?
The book is written for a non-scientist, without textbook language, so it's a pleasant read for anyone with a grasp of a few basic science concepts we learned in school. There are illustrations to help clarify the author's explanations, which is also helpful.
What was most interesting was that the book awakens our attention to observe overlooked facets of the world around us. Is there a nice breeze today? Pay attention to which direction it comes from, and whether it shifts as the day goes on.
When I was in high school, a half-century ago, my favorite science class was Earth Science, where we learned about weather, (along with water, erosion, and other related topics). Over the years, while my interest remained, a lot of the specific detail has blurred and seeped away. This book was a lively and engrossing refresher.
Link to book:
https://theexperimentpublishing.com/catalogs/winter-2023/the-secret-world-of-weather/
#BookRecommendations #WeatherScience