The weather revolution

Weather, in all its variety and majesty, is both a source of Earth's awe-inspiring beauty and a powerful, threatening force. With the brilliant technological innovations of recent times, including lasers, satellites, and supercomputers, scientists have revolutionized the science of accurate weather prediction. As this intriguing work shows, the gap between the "art" and science of forecasting is rapidly narrowing, and the day when we will have accurate weekly and monthly, even yearly, forecasts is quickly approaching. Jack Fishman and Robert Kalish, acclaimed authors of Global Alert: The Ozone Pollution Crisis, clearly and eloquently explain the makings of weather from everyday winds and precipitation to the worst weather disasters. They show how the power of weather still holds us at its mercy and affects us all. Perilous downdrafts, undetectable by airplane pilots, can hurl landing planes into the runway to their doom. Freezing blasts of snow and ice cause traumatic accidents on our streets. Deadly tornadoes descend from thunderclouds, uprooting trees, devastating farmers' fields, and ripping buildings from their very foundations. And hurricanes, the most awesome storms on Earth,