The AMS Weather Book

• Supplementary Texts •

A wealth of information is in The AMS Weather Book. Nonetheless, the pages of the book could not contain all the topics and data that author Jack Williams and the American Meteorological Society wanted to convey. The fifty pages of this website add to, explain, and give sources for the text of the book. The table of contents on the left will lead you to information of three kinds:

Explorations have additional information about topics discussed more briefly in the book, including further reading and links to related Web sites.

Outtakes are sections of text from earlier drafts of the book that were dropped from the final published version.

Sources list the books, Web sites, journal articles, and interviews the author used or those that might help readers better understand the concepts described in the book.

About the book: The AMS Weather Book is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to our weather and our atmosphere, it is the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to understand how hurricanes form, why tornados twirl, or even why the sky is cerulean blue. Covering everything from daily weather patterns to air pollution and global warming, The AMS Weather Book will help readers make sense of news about the weather, cope with threats, and learn how integral oceanic and atmospheric science are to navigating our place in the physical world.

Written by science journalist and former USA Today weather editor Jack Williams, The AMS Weather Book explores not only the science behind the weather but also the stories of people coping with severe weather and those who devote their lives to understanding the atmosphere, oceans, and climate. The book’s profiles and historic discussions illustrate how meteorology and the related sciences are interwoven throughout our lives. Words alone, of course, are not adequate to explain many meteorological concepts. To illustrate complex phenomena, The AMS Weather Book is filled with engaging full-color graphics that explain such concepts as why winds blow in a particular direction, how Doppler weather radar works, what happens inside hurricanes, how clouds create wind and snow, and what’s really affecting the Earth’s climate.

“Weather is always around us, ever changing, and often challenging to experience. From my perspective, it’s important that everyone have an understanding of how weather works—when you gain knowledge, you gain power, the power to better protect yourself and your belongings when severe weather strikes your town. While the science of it all can sometimes seem intimidating, books like The AMS Weather Book make it easier to understand.”—From the Foreword by Stephanie Abrams, on-air meteorologist for the Weather Channel

Praise for the book: “I am often asked what book I would recommend to aspiring young meteorologists or climatologists. I will be spreading the word about this one. Whether for the weather enthusiast or the reader simply curious about the many faces of our ever-changing atmosphere, The AMS Weather Book is a must read! Meticulously researched and beautifully written, Jack Williams’ book is incredible.”—Tom Skilling, WGN/Chicago Tribune Chief Meteorologist

Comments and Questions: Comments about the book and website, and questions on weather topices, can be directed to Jack Williams.