Don Ahrens is a retired professor from Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California. Professor Ahrens, the bestselling author of two Cengage Learning texts, received the McGuffey Longevity Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association for the 9th Edition of his market-leading meteorology today. He has influenced countless atmospheric science professionals as well as hundreds of thousands of students who use his books to better understand weather and climate. For these achievements, Professor Ahrens received a lifetime achievement award from the National Weather Association in 2007.

Donald Ahrens, a widely read and authoritative author in introductory meteorology, has written the sixth edition of Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere. Ahrens' ability to explain relatively complex ideas in a student-friendly, manageable manner will allow you to easily visualize meteorological principles. Essentials of Meteorology has been completely revised, with over 250 new images and figures, as well as the most recent research and coverage. The book is regarded as one of the best books on meteorology.

Author: C. Donald Ahrens

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Meteorology-Invitation-Donald-Ahrens/dp/0840049331/

Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars (from 74 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,138,668 in Books

#627 in Rivers in Earth Science

#804 in Weather (Books)

#1,301 in Climatology

Don Ahrens is an emeritus professor at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California. He has influenced countless atmospheric science professionals, as well as hundreds of thousands of students who use his books to better understand weather and climate. For these achievements, he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Weather Association in 2007. Professor Ahrens, the bestselling author of two Cengage texts, received the McGuffey Longevity Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association for the Ninth Edition of his market-leading Meteorology Today.

Robert Henson is one of the country's most widely read weather and climate writers. He contributes regularly to the Yale Climate Connections website and is a contributing editor to the Texas Climate News website and Weatherwise magazine. Henson previously worked as a staff writer and editor at Weather Underground and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson's Meteorology Today combines the latest in weather, climate, and earth science to introduce students to the concepts and current issues of meteorology. The new edition of this highly visual text, based on the scientific method, teaches students how to observe, calculate, and synthesize information as budding scientists. Specific debates focus on severe weather systems such as tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as everyday elements such as wind, precipitation, and seasons. Students will enjoy engaging features such as Concept Animations, a digital Study Guide, and summative EOC assessment in the MindTap course. Students can apply their knowledge to real-life studies and meteorological events with new assignable Case Study activities in each chapter.

Author: Don Ahrens and Robert Henson

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Meteorology-Today-Introduction-Weather-Environment/dp/1337616664/

Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars (from 235 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #452,971 in Books

#194 in Rivers in Earth Science

#267 in Weather (Books)

#500 in Climatology

Gavin Pretor-Pinney is a well-known journalist and the co-founder of the English magazine The Idler. He has been obsessed with clouds since he was a child, and he is a former science nerd and Oxford University graduate. His work has appeared in The Telegraph, The Evening Standard, and other publications. Gavin is the founder and chair of The Cloud Appreciation Society, based in London and Somerset.

What causes clouds to form? What makes them look the way they do? And what is it about them that has captivated the imaginations of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every child who has ever held a crayon? Gavin Pretor-Pinney, a veteran journalist and lifelong sky watcher, reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic sky tour.

The Cloudspotter's Guide is a witty and eclectic study of clouds that captures the character of these natural phenomena while discussing the science behind the different types of clouds, what they mean in terms of climate and weather, their history, and artistic and cultural fascination with their ephemeral beauty. It is for enthusiasts, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine.

Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, clears up any confusion readers may have about what distinguishes a stratus from a cirrus from a cumulonimbus with a tongue firmly in cheek and more than a little irony. He begins at the bottom, at sea level, and discusses the different types of clouds that form at each level of the atmosphere. The result is an entertaining and enlightening journey through the heavenly vapors that draws on classical poetry, physics, geekery, and pop culture. Despite this unlikely mix, Pretor-Pinney succeeds in fleshing out nuances and making difficult concepts like convection, advection, condensation, and atmospheric optics understandable to almost any reader. Hundreds of illustrations, cloud photos (including one that looks like two cats dancing and another that looks like Thor hurling a lightning bolt), and diagrams showing the anatomy and lifecycles of clouds have been included by the author. A chapter on the human effects on clouds and a narrative about the author's pursuit of the "Morning Glory," which he calls "the most spectacular cloud in the world," round out the volume. Pretor-Pinney makes learning about clouds fun by combining self-deprecating humor and hard science.

Author: Gavin Pretor-Pinney

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Cloudspotters-Guide-Science-History-Culture/dp/0399533451/

Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars (from 386 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #41,686 in Books

#8 in Rivers in Earth Science

#20 in Weather (Books)

#60 in Climatology

Fred Lutgens graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. and an M.S. Ed Tarbuck earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and his master's degree from Indiana University. Both are retired professors from Illinois Central College. Since 1970, they have been good friends and colleagues.

Earth Science, Lutgens and Tarbuck's first college textbook, was published in 1976. That book, which received the Text and Academic Authors Association's McGuffy Award, is now in its 14th edition. When the first edition of Earth was being prepared in 1983, renowned geology illustrator Dennis Tasa joined the author team. Since then, the three have worked on over 30 projects together as the dominant author team franchise in the physical geosciences.

The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology remains the standard introductory meteorology text, reinforcing fundamental concepts with everyday, understandable examples. Tarbuck and Lutgens' signature features remain: a friendly, largely non-technical narrative, timely coverage of recent atmospheric events, and carefully crafted artwork by leading science illustrator Dennis Tasa.

The Thirteenth Edition includes a new active-learning approach, integrated mobile media, and MasteringMeteorology, the most comprehensive, user-friendly, and engaging tutorial and assessment tool available. This edition also includes dedicated climate change features in each chapter, coverage of the IPCC 5th Assessment report, and an inquiry-based approach in updated Student Sometimes Ask features with interesting facts that strengthen the connection between students and the content.

The book is also available with MasteringMeteorology. MasteringMeteorology is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment product designed to help students quickly master concepts and improve results. To help students stay on track, self-paced activities with immediate wrong-answer feedback and hints that mimic the office-hour experience are beneficial. Students are encouraged to actively learn and retain difficult course concepts through a variety of interactive, engaging, and assignable activities.

Author: Frederick K. Lutgens and Edward J. Tarbuck

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Atmosphere-Introduction-Meteorology-13th-MasteringMeteorology/dp/0321984625/

Ratings: 4.1 out of 5 stars (from 165 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #386,389 in Books

#159 in Rivers in Earth Science

#226 in Weather (Books)

#433 in Climatology

Gary Lackmann is a professor of atmospheric sciences at North Carolina State University's Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. He is the author of Midlatitude Synoptic Meteorology.

The last decade has seen significant advancements in meteorological observation, computing techniques, and data visualization technology. However, the full benefit of these advancements will not be realized until a systematic, applied approach to meteorological education is implemented, allowing well-established theoretical concepts to be applied to modernized observational and numerical datasets.

Midlatitude Synoptic Meteorology connects theoretical concepts to modern technology and makes it easier to apply concepts, theories, and techniques to real-world data. As such, it will benefit those considering careers in meteorological research and weather prediction while also serving as a model for the use of modern technology in the classroom and laboratory.

This text is intended for undergraduates and beginning graduate students in the atmospheric sciences and covers synoptic-dynamic meteorology, synoptically driven mesoscale phenomena, weather forecasting, and numerical weather prediction in depth. The book is regarded as one of the best books on meteorology.

Author: Gary Lackmann

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Midlatitude-Synoptic-Meteorology-Dynamics-Forecasting/dp/1878220101/

Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars (from 42 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,321 in Books

#605 in Rivers in Earth Science

#776 in Weather (Books)

#1,256 in Climatology

Dr. Robin McIlveen was previously a lecturer in Environmental Science at Lancaster University's Institute of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Most of us are unaware of the enormous scale, power, and complexity of the atmosphere. With the effects of global climate change becoming more apparent, it is critical to understand the processes that underpin our weather and climate.

Among the best books on meteorology, Fundamentals of Weather and Climate is an engaging and insightful treatment of the behavior of the lower atmosphere that takes a quantitative approach to describing the mechanisms involved. It begins with an overview of the atmosphere and its components before introducing the physics that drive weather systems and then applies those principles to specific systems of varying scales and latitudes. Finally, the text connects this information to the issue of anthropogenic climate change.

Fundamentals of Weather and Climate includes extensive pedagogical features such as end-of-chapter questions, key points, and custom-drawn illustrations that help students visualize the processes and interactions described. A companion website provides resources for both students and teachers.

Author: Robin McIlveen

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Weather-Climate-Robin-McIlveen/dp/0199215421/

Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars (from 12 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #2,446,434 in Books

#1,572 in Rivers in Earth Science

#1,658 in Earth Sciences (Books)

#1,803 in Weather (Books)

Elizabeth Kolbert is The New Yorker's staff writer. Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change is her first book. Her husband and children live in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Kolbert, a New Yorker writer known for her insightful and thought-provoking journalism, takes on the contentious subject of global warming. Since the late 1970s, Americans have been warned that the buildup of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere threatens to melt the polar ice sheets and permanently alter our climate. With little done since then to change this perilous path, now is the time to save our future. By the end of the century, the world will most likely be hotter than it has been in the last two million years, with the sweeping consequences determining the future of life on Earth for future generations.

Kolbert approaches this monumental problem from every angle in writing that is both clear and objective. She travels to the Arctic, interviews researchers and environmentalists, explains the science and studies, draws terrifying parallels to lost ancient civilizations, unpacks the politics, and tells the personal stories of those most affected: those who live near the poles and, in an eerie foreshadowing, are watching their worlds disappear. Field Notes from a Catastrophe, based on a groundbreaking three-part series for the New Yorker, brings the environment into the consciousness of the American people and asks what, if anything, can be done and how we can save our planet.

Author: Elizabeth Kolbert

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Field-Notes-Catastrophe-Nature-Climate/dp/1620409887/

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars (from 431 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #139,027 in Books

#87 in Environmental Policy

#386 in Environmental Science (Books)

Paul M. Markowski is a leading expert on tornadogenesis and supercell and tornado forecasting in the United States. He was a principal investigator for the IHOP, PAMREX, and VORTEX2 field projects, and he served on the VORTEX2 Steering Committee with Joshua Wurman, Howard Bluestein, and others. Yvette Richardson is the author of Wiley's Mesoscale Meteorology in the Midlatitudes.

Mesoscale Meteorology in the Mid-Latitudes is a student-friendly textbook that explains the dynamics of mesoscale meteorological phenomena. The clear mathematical treatments in the book are supplemented by high-quality photographs and illustrations. Comprehensive coverage of topics such as boundary layer mesoscale phenomena, orographic phenomena, and deep convection is combined with the most recent developments in the field to provide an invaluable resource for students of mesoscale meteorology.

Among the best books on meteorology, Mesoscale Meteorology in the Mid-Latitudes serves as a comprehensive, user-friendly undergraduate textbook as well as a reference for graduate students, research scientists, and weather industry professionals.

• Throughout, full-color illustrations are used.
• Covers the most recent advances and research in the field. In-depth coverage of deep convection and its initiation.
• Real-world examples of phenomena from various geographical areas are used to demonstrate the practical aspects of the science.

Author: Paul M. Markowski and Yvette Richardson

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Mesoscale-Meteorology-Midlatitudes-Paul-Markowski/dp/0470742135/

Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars (from 35 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #334,516 in Books

#137 in Rivers in Earth Science

#185 in Weather (Books)

#364 in Climatology

James R. Holton was a University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences until his death in 2004. He was a member of the National Academies of Science and received every major honor available in the atmospheric sciences during his career, including the AGU's Revelle Medal.

Gregory J. Hakim is a University of Washington Professor and Chair of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences in the College of the Environment. His research focuses on climate reconstruction, predictability, data assimilation, atmospheric dynamics, and synoptic meteorology problems. Weather, atmospheric sciences, atmospheric structure and analysis, atmospheric motions, synoptic meteorology, balance dynamics, and weather predictability and data assimilation are among the topics he teaches.

The best-selling textbook An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology introduces upper undergraduate and graduate-level students to the study of atmospheric behavior and dynamics as they are influenced by weather and climate. The science of dynamic meteorology has advanced rapidly over the last decade. The scope of dynamic meteorology has grown significantly. Much of the content is based on a two-term atmospheric sciences course for seniors.

This book provides a clear explanation of meteorology fundamentals and storm dynamics for weather-oriented meteorologists. It goes over climate dynamics and the implications for global warming. A companion website with MATLAB exercises and updated treatments of several key topics has been added to the new edition.

• Clear physical explanations of key dynamical principles are provided.
• There are numerous illustrations to help explain the text and equations, as well as end-of-chapter problems.
• Holton is a leading authority in modern meteorology and is well known for his straightforward writing style.
• Adopters can access the Instructor's Manual.

In this edition:

• MATLAB exercises and demonstrations are available on a companion website.
  
• Climate dynamics, tropical meteorology, middle atmosphere dynamics, and numerical prediction have all been updated.

Author: James R. Holton and Gregory J. Hakim

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Dynamic-Meteorology-International-Geophysics/dp/0123848660/

Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars (from 68 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #484,131 in Books

#208 in Rivers in Earth Science

#282 in Weather (Books)

#524 in Climatology

Dr. Jon Shonk is a researcher at the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology, one of the world's leading meteorology centers. He is the author of Introducing Meteorology- one of the best books on meteorology

The weather is a daily topic of conversation in many parts of the world, but it hardly changes from one week to the next in others. However, the weather governs much of human life, affecting everything from farming to fishing, shopping to vacationing. Introducing Meteorology was written to provide a concise overview of weather science for students and interested amateurs looking for a topical guide to this complex science. The first chapters describe the evolution of science, the atmosphere, and the forces that govern weather. The author then discusses weather influences at both the global and local levels before delving into the science of weather forecasting. This book, which is lavishly illustrated, is intended for those whose interest in meteorology has been piqued, perhaps by media coverage of dramatic weather events, and who want to learn more. The use of technical terms is kept to a minimum and explained in a glossary.

Introducing Meteorology is a welcome addition to the bookshelves of students, amateur meteorologists, meteorology educators, and those who simply enjoy a readable, affordable weather book. Jon Shonk has written a marvelously succinct and up­to­date introduction to weather that will appeal to a wide range of audiences and purposes. I hope this is just the beginning of a long line of excellent books from this young scientist.

There has been a flood of weather books over the years, but John Shonk's Introducing Meteorology, A Guide to Weather' is inexpensive, concise, and packed with information. It is extremely readable and lavishly illustrated, with an excellent balance of pictures and diagrams, all in color.

Author: Jon Shonk

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Meteorology-Weather-Environmental-Sciences/dp/1780460910/

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars (from 60 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: 210,113 in Books

212 in Popular Science Weather

278 in Geology

306 in Earth Sciences (Books)