|
|
February 04, 2012, 12:30:16 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Problems with the forum? Please PM saratogaWX with details. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
February 04, 2012, 12:30:16 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Problems with the forum? Please PM saratogaWX with details. Thanks!
|
| Home | Help | Search | Login | Register |
Author: Jack Williams and Bob Sheet Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Vintage (2001) Language: English ISBN: 037570390X Given the recent and ongoing tragedy along the United States' Gulf Coast, it seemed to me that a review of a book on the science and meteorology of hurricanes was apropos. Many people, but particularly those with an interest in weather, might be hungry to learn more about how hurricanes form and behave. I've owned Hurricane Watch for a couple of years and quite recently re-read it given the severity of this hurricane season - even before Katrina's wrath left its toll of death and destruction from Florida to Louisiana. Jack Williams is the weather editor for USA Today and the author of USA Today's Weather Book, with which many of you may be familiar, and Bob Sheets is former director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and together, they make a potent writing team for this subject. Hurricane Watch begins with an historical perspective on hurricanes, from Christopher Columbus' experience with them through others that have affected North America and elsewhere. With the history as a backdrop, Williams and Sheets proceed to discuss the dynamics that cause hurricanes to breed, how they grow - or die out - and give a factual and fascinating description of their power. The reader gains some meaningful insight into the meteorology of hurricanes, learns how scientists have greatly increased their ability to forecast hurricanes and their tracks, and gain knowledge about operations of the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Hunter Operations, and other "behind the scenes" looks at our efforts to gain wisdom about the behavior of hurricanes. Efforts to seed hurricanes or otherwise modify their behavior - something bound to get discussed again soon - are only briefly dealt with. Hurricane Watch concludes with an interesting look at the timing, forecasting, tracking, and aftermath of Hurricane Andrew as it devastated Miami, Dade County, Homestead, and other areas in south Florida in 1992. Were this book written in 2005 or 2006, of course that look would be at Katrina. If your curiousity is piqued about hurricanes and what makes them tick, I'd heartily recommend this book as a very good primer about hurricanes. This book is easily accessible to those knowing little about hurricanes or meteorology, yet won't be overly pedestrian to those with a good foundation of knowledge. |
|
Powered by SMF 1.1.16 | SMF © 2011, Simple Machines |
|