96 of 110 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not what you might expect, Mar 1 2006
By James P. Benso - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Weather Identification Handbook: The Ultimate Guide for Weather Watchers (Paperback)
I am reluctant to criticize any book for being something other than what I expected it to be. I was looking for a 'basic meteorology' book. I wanted a better understanding of fronts, high- and low-pressure areas, wind patterns, world weather patterns, the influence of ocean currents, etc.
If you're looking for weather principles, this book is not for you. Unfortunately (for me), the book takes a taxonomic approach to weather. Approx. 2/3rds of the pages are dedicated to identifying and classifying various cloud formations and optical phenomena. If you read assiduously, you'll never mistake stratus for stratocumulus, cirrus for cirrocumulus, and, aha, there's some altostratus undulatus! And you'll learn of Corona, Glory, and Heiligenschein. Broad weather patterns and principles get short shrift, if they get any shrift at all. About page 178 (out of 192, incl. bibliography, credits, and index) you'll finally get into a discussion of air masses, fronts, depressions, etc.
Publishers are usually responsible for choosing the title. This book is mis-titled.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, Feb 15 2005
By Randy Given - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Weather Identification Handbook: The Ultimate Guide for Weather Watchers (Paperback)
When I first was getting into being a weather hobbyist, I checked out the bookstore and this was my first choice. It helps methodically layout what the different types of clouds there are and how to identify them, as well as understand how they work. This should be one of your first books in this area as well.
36 of 41 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weather Identification Handbook, Sep 7 2005
By J. Lindner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Weather Identification Handbook: The Ultimate Guide for Weather Watchers (Paperback)
This is an excellent book. It is generously illustrated, giving the user more types of cloud classification than most people will ever need to know. It then goes into storm development and other atmospheric conditions. The information is concisely organized and well presented. This is just an excellent book. Anyone with a casual interest in weather will find this book useful.
The book is printed on good quality stock and is full color throughout. I wouldn't be suprised if this is used as a meteorology textbook. It is reasonably priced so I encourage everyone who reads this review to strongly consider this book.