The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds

Voorkant
Penguin, 2006 - 320 pagina's
A quirky, clever guide for everyone who loves to look up.

Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and seemingly surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies.

Generously illustrated with striking photographs and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, children's drawings, and Roman coins, The Cloudspotter's Guidewill have science and history buffs, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine.

Vanuit het boek

Geselecteerde pagina's

Inhoudsopgave

Introduction
9
Classification table
17
Cumulonimbus
45
Stratus
71
Stratocumulus
91
Altocumulus
113
Altostratus
135
Nimbostratus
151
Cirrus
171
Cirrocumulus
195
Cirrostratus
211
The Other Clouds
239
Contrails
253
The Morning Glory
283
Notes
307
Copyright

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Over de auteur (2006)

Gavin Pretor-Pinney is the co-founder of The Idlermagazine in England. A former science nerd and a graduate of Oxford University, he has been obsessed with clouds since childhood. His writing has appeared in The Telegraph, The Evening Standard, and other publications in England, including The Idler Book of Crap Towns. Currently living in London, Gavin is the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society.

Bibliografische gegevens