This Peterson First guide contains easy-to-understand answers to questions about the weather, such as why the sky is blue, what makes it rain, and what causes rainbows. The book also features 116 color photographs that show how to identify clouds, with explanations of what each cloud type tells about the weather to come.

A field guide to the weather, including clouds, storm systems, and climate change A resource for those intrigued by events in the sky—clouds, precipitation, storms, aurora, halos—and for those who follow daily weather events. Using a nontechnical approach, the authors describe the flow of energy and moisture through global and local landscapes and how they evolve into day-to-day weather. For those fascinated by the sky’s colors and patterns, there are halos, rainbows, iridescent clouds, and other tapestries in the sky. For the cloud-watcher, common and unusual cloud forms are covered; for those entranced by storms, the guide includes severe thunderstorms, winter blizzards, hurricanes, hail, ice storms, and other challenges that the atmosphere inflicts. It even includes a chapter on weather in the atmospheres of the planets and the sun. More than 400 photographs illustrate visible weather, and diagrams explain the more challenging physical concepts. This book is designed for those who want to look up, marvel, and understand what they see.

Reading Weather provides a quick and simple way to understand how the atmosphere works, how to interpret and use weather forecasts before venturing outdoors, and also how to make your own forecast in the field by observing the changes in the weather. This fully updated and revised reference will arm you with the meteorological knowledge necessary to make good decisions on whether to proceed or retreat in the face of a storm. Also included are helpful definitions, tables, and simplified graphics of common weather features.

Ecology.

A basic field guide for beginning observers of the solar system, introducing information on the locations and characteristics of the planets, sun, comets, meteors, and other objects in our solar system.

This guide describes and illustrates the 50 different kinds of forest and related habitats found throughout the United States and Canada, from the boreal forests and tundra of the north to the mangrove swamps, desert scrub, and giant saguaro forests of the south. 55 color plates.

A basic field guide for beginning observers of the night sky, introducing information on the locations, names, and characteristics of stars, constellations, and other bodies in outer space.

This complete guide covers 317 of the most common and conspicuous plants and animals of the seashores, from jellyfish and kelp to clams, gulls, and whales. Species are grouped by habitat so readers know what they can expect to see along sandy beaches, in rocky tide pools, or in mud flats.

Written and designed for the beginner, this book describes and illustrates the most common and interesting rocks and minerals, from simple sandstone to exotic gems. Illustrated with dozens of beautiful color photographs, it tells how these rocks and minerals formed and how to identify them--and includes tips on collecting. 175 color photographs, 12 line drawings.

Describes and illustrates shells found in North America, including gastropods, chitons, and bivalves.