- Paperback: 292 pages
- Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (Jun 11 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0521775043
- ISBN-13: 978-0521775045
- Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 24.6 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#627,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Light
- #39 in Books > Science > Physics > Light
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Why is the sky blue? Why do mountains glow in the dark? Is the darkest always before the dawn? An ideal reference to have to hand in answering questions such as these, Color and Light in Nature is an endlessly fascinating exploration of phenomena that are familiar to us all, but that even trained scientists take for granted. Take the question of why stars twinkle, for instance. Twinkling, astronomers Lynch and Livingston observe, is strongest with stars that are low in the sky, and then on a clear and windy night, when starlight passing through the atmosphere encounters little pockets of turbulence that bend its rays "momentarily away from our eyes". Sunlight undergoes similar distortions, yielding mirages, "blinks", sundogs, haloes, rainbows, "mountain light", and other wonders of nature, all of which the authors describe and explain in clear and accessible prose.
Lynch and Livingston encourage their readers to seek out and study these phenomena for themselves, writing, for instance , "No effort should be spared to witness at least one total eclipse in your lifetime." They go on to make a good case for why that should be so, and why the workings of light and colour should be of interest to students of science. Their book is a lively companion and teacher. --Gregory McNamee
Review
"This magnificent collection of photographs of every imaginable optical phenomenon in the atmosphere deserves to be widely distributed..." Meteorological and Atmospheric Physics
"[Lynch and Livingston] take the reader through hundreds of light and colour phenomena visible in the sky overhead, ranging from the straightforward to the exotic. Each account is succinct and lucid, illustrated by both diagrams and photographs, some stunning in their beauty....The balance of description and physical explanation is excellent. Many teachers as well as a good many naturalists will find the book to be a highly useful and comprehensive treatment of a beautiful subject, one that can be used to enliven dry classroom discussions of optics, light and colour." Nature
"...a remarkable exposition of the many optical phenomena that delight and intrigue the eye of an observant person....delightful volume....It will certainly appeal to all readers interested in understanding color and light in nature." Choice
"...impressive book....Lynch and Livingston deserve the thanks of the scientific community for re-opening our eyes to the wonderful world around us." American Scientist
"Those who may be inspired for the first time to become careful observers of color and light in nature will enjoy reading about the green flash, supernumerary rainbows, mirages, the moon illusion, Haidinger's brush, earthshine, and many other topics presented in this book." American Journal of Physics
"...the up-to-date research, new ideas, beautiful pictures, and excellent explanations make Color and Light in Nature the new classic." Science
"This book is about seeing the world with the naked eye... From mirages to white water to comet showers, it is all here.... This is the kind of book that makes you pay a lot more attention to your surroundings as you walk." E-Streams
"[Lynch and Livingston] take the reader through hundreds of light and colour phenomena visible in the sky overhead, ranging from the straightforward to the exotic. Each account is succinct and lucid, illustrated by both diagrams and photographs, some stunning in their beauty....The balance of description and physical explanation is excellent. Many teachers as well as a good many naturalists will find the book to be a highly useful and comprehensive treatment of a beautiful subject, one that can be used to enliven dry classroom discussions of optics, light and colour." Nature
"...a remarkable exposition of the many optical phenomena that delight and intrigue the eye of an observant person....delightful volume....It will certainly appeal to all readers interested in understanding color and light in nature." Choice
"...impressive book....Lynch and Livingston deserve the thanks of the scientific community for re-opening our eyes to the wonderful world around us." American Scientist
"Those who may be inspired for the first time to become careful observers of color and light in nature will enjoy reading about the green flash, supernumerary rainbows, mirages, the moon illusion, Haidinger's brush, earthshine, and many other topics presented in this book." American Journal of Physics
"...the up-to-date research, new ideas, beautiful pictures, and excellent explanations make Color and Light in Nature the new classic." Science
"This book is about seeing the world with the naked eye... From mirages to white water to comet showers, it is all here.... This is the kind of book that makes you pay a lot more attention to your surroundings as you walk." E-Streams
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
We think of shadows as dark areas on the ground. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
We think of shadows as dark areas on the ground. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable account of light in nature,
By Assaf Tal (Israel) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)
This book is intended for people who are intrigued or awed by the way light is expressed in nature. It describes many natural phenomena involving light, including shadows, the color of the sky, clouds, mirages, halos, rainbows, the effects of ice in the atmosphere and much more. The intended audience in my eyes consists mainly of people who like physics but the beautiful color full-page pictures and tips on taking them also make this book a great resource for anyone interested in photography. Even physics students can benefit from this book (although it is intended for laymen, so no equations are used) - the book shows them interesting manifestations of optics in nature. The book also makes a nice gift for people who enjoy nature and would like to know how it "works". Highly recommended!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Look for big things from this spunky up-coming go-getter!,
By A Customer
Noted solar astronomer Bill Livingston, PhD is a talented photographer in addition to his amazing astonomy skills. The menagerie of photographs showcases his blossoming picture-taking magic. Look for big things from this spunky up-coming go-getter!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible book!,
By Bonaiv "bonaiv" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Color and Light in Nature (Paperback)
I have thoroughly enjoyed this treasure of a book. Wonderful, clear text and beautiful photographs to illustrate all phenomena described! This would be a terrific read for anyone interested in science, physics, and nature. Definitely worth the money!
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