The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of CloudsA quirky, clever guide for everyone who loves to look up. Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and seemingly surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies. Generously illustrated with striking photographs and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, children's drawings, and Roman coins, The Cloudspotter's Guidewill have science and history buffs, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - Sandydog1 - LibraryThingI really enjoyed the quaint lore, but didn't finish every bit of it, preferring to consider this wonderful book a reference. I'm culling all my books but this one is a keeper. Very well done. Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - Eoin - LibraryThingA charming and moderately informative consideration of the visible atmosphere. 5+ stars for concept, 3 average for execution. The tone is a bit spotty with moments of grace. Worth it for the Morning Glory. Member #22860 Read full review
Contents
Introduction | 9 |
Classification table | 17 |
Cumulonimbus | 45 |
Stratus | 71 |
Stratocumulus | 91 |
Altocumulus | 113 |
Altostratus | 135 |
Nimbostratus | 151 |
Cirrus | 171 |
Cirrocumulus | 195 |
Cirrostratus | 211 |
The Other Clouds | 239 |
Contrails | 253 |
The Morning Glory | 283 |
Notes | 307 |
Other editions - View all
The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds Gavin Pretor-Pinney Limited preview - 2007 |
The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds Gavin Pretor-Pinney Limited preview - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
altitude Altocumulus Altostratus appear atmosphere base beautiful become blue building called cause Cirrocumulus Cirrostratus Cirrus clear cloud cloudlets cloudspotter cold colours coming common congestus contrails convection cooling course cover Cumulonimbus Cumulus Cumulus clouds currents dark develop direction droplets drops effect explained fact fall feel formation freeze front ground grow halo hand happens heat ice crystals increase known layer lenticularis less light look lower mackerel means miles moon Morning Glory mountain never Nimbostratus notice paintings particles pass precipitation radiation rain reaches regions result rising seeding seems seen shape side snow sometimes species spread storm Stratocumulus Stratus sunlight surface temperature tend thick thing troposphere types undulatus usually vapour varieties visible warm warmer waves weather Whilst wind
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds A Sceptre book |
| Author | Gavin Pretor-Pinney |
| Illustrated by | Bill Sanderson |
| Contributor | Cloud Appreciation Society |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Penguin, 2006 |
| ISBN | 0399532560, 9780399532566 |
| Length | 320 pages |
| Subjects | › › Nature / Weather Science / Earth Sciences / Meteorology & Climatology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |