The Weather of the Pacific Northwest
by Cliff Mass
|
List Price: Our Price: $19.74 You Save: $10.21 (34%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $13.20 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Weather of the Pacific Northwest
Book Review: A Beautiful Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest, especially those who watch the skies and try to understand our crazy weather, have been given a great resource in this book. I have taken many science classes over the years, but I think the hardest subject to understand is the science of weather. Cliff Mass makes it clear for the lay person, without interjecting unnecessary terms and jargon. I have lived through many of the violent storms of the Puget Sound region, but now I understand the conditions that give rise to those events. Not only is the book clear without condescension, it is beautiful. The illustrations, graphs, and photos are worth the price of it. I have read the text avidly, and the pictures make it perfect for the coffee table. Now I don't just tell Seattle rain jokes, I am actually proud of our "convergent zones" and Stampede Gaps. If you live here, get the book.Book Review: Great if you live in the Pacific Northwest
Summary: 5 Stars
If you live in the Pacific Northwest and you are interested in our weather - and how can you not be? - this is the book for you. Cliff Mass gets you interested by giving a history of some of our most noteworthy storms. The Columbus Day storm, The Inauguration Day storm, The Hannukah Eve storm, etc. For example: Why was the damage from the Hannukah Eve storm so much more extensive than the damage from the Columbus Day storm? Why are our storms not called hurricanes when we get them with hurricane force winds? This book also gives you the science behind our weather in easy to understand language with great illustrations. I only hope that Cliff will come out with another version someday that will remind us of events like the December 2008 "100-year" snowstorm that happened after this book was published.Book Review: The Weather of the Pacific Northwest
Summary: 4 Stars
Enjoyable, coffee table kind of book. Gives a good idea of regional weather features. Lots of space is devoted to unusual weather events, which is a must read if you plan to buy a house in the region.
Enough background is provided, so no special knowledge is required. The downside of this is that quite a bit of space is taken up by explanations of general principals and phenomena.
There is a short chapter on "reading the sky" towards the end, and the appendix contains some useful resources, but I expected more practical information on how to interpret the current weather situation.
In addition to reading this book, I recommend following the author's blog, which appears to be updated whenever there is an interesting weather situation.
Book Review: Content great - print is too small
Summary: 3 Stars
Although I haven't read the book yet, just by leafing through it, I would say that the content is very complete and the other reviews probably sum up whats in the book very well.
However, I bought this for my dad who is 92 and still reads voraciously. The print is way too small for him to read, and the captions under the charts and pictures are even smaller. I knew he would likely share it with me after he was through, but honestly, at 53, it's hard for me to read too. If you have reading glasses it might be better.
It might be a little too in depth for the average "curiously interested" in NW weather. Might be a book you keep by your favorite chair and pick up every once in a while to read a portion of it.
Book Review: Delightful and Informative
Summary: 5 Stars
As a Northwest transplant, I've always wondered why the storms out here are so very different from those in the midwest. Mass explains all of this in an accessible, easy to understand way. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the full-color graphics help the reader under the mechanics and movement of weather. I love the discussion of the historical floods (including the whopper in December 2006 that felt of hurricane intensity) and the chapter on how to "forecast" the weather on your own. This is a truly great weather and climate book -- straightforward yet complex, sober in its science yet exciting in its practical immediacy. I've already bought an extra copy for a friend for Christmas who is a committed weather buff.