Written by meteorologists C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson and grounded in the scientific method, Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate and the Environment, 13th edition, shows you how to observe, calculate and synthesize weather information as a scientist. Packed with engaging visuals, it provides the latest information on climate change, ozone depletion, air quality, El Niño and other key topics as well as discussions of recent high-profile weather events, including droughts, heat waves, tornado outbreaks and hurricanes. "Focus On" boxes help you delve deeper into meteorological observation methods and environmental issues, while case studies provide direct access to academic and newsworthy papers on recent developments. The MindTap for Meteorology digital platform includes concept check activities, animations and videos, and a variety of hands-on activities.
1. Earth and Its Atmosphere
2. Energy: Warming and Cooling Earth and the Atmosphere
3. Seasonal and Daily Temperatures
4. Atmospheric Humidity
5. Condensation: Dew, Fog and Clouds
6. Stability and Cloud Development
7. Precipitation
8. Air Pressure and Winds
9. Wind: Small-Scale and Local Systems
10. Wind: Global Systems
11. Air Masses and Fronts
12. Middle-Latitude Cyclones
13. Weather Forecasting
14. Thunderstorms
15. Tornadoes
16. Hurricanes
17. Earth's Changing Climate
18. Global Climate
19. Air Pollution
20. Light, Color and Atmospheric Optics
Don Ahrens is an emeritus professor at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California. He has influenced countless professionals in the field of atmospheric science as well as hundreds of thousands of students who use his books to better understand weather and climate. In 2007, the National Weather Association awarded him a lifetime achievement award for these accomplishments. The best-selling author of three Cengage texts – Meteorology Today, Essentials of Meteorology and Extreme Weather and Climate – Professor Ahrens received the Textbook and Academic Authors Association's McGuffey Longevity Award for the 9th edition of Meteorology Today. Professor Ahrens completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in meteorology at San Jose State University and his doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado.
Robert Henson is among the nation's most widely read writers on weather and climate. He is a regular contributor to the Yale Climate Connections website and a contributing editor at the Texas Climate News website and Weatherwise magazine. Prior to his freelance career, Henson was a staff writer and editor at Weather Underground and at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research. An expert on tornadoes, thunderstorms and hurricanes, Henson has also analyzed how TV weathercasters cover major storms and report on climate change. His books include The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change, whose original edition was shortlisted for the UK Royal Society Prize for Science Books.