Reviewed by Terry Whisenant
Teacher of Gifted and Talented
Weather never ceases to fascinate, delight, and occasionally make life difficult. Weather Watch, a month-by-month guide to the world's weather, is a 12-volume reference set focusing on weather and climate. There is one volume for each month of the year. Each volume provides a factual and interesting comparison of climates in countries and cities around the world. Hundreds of photographs, maps, charts, graphs, and satellite images illustrate world temperature, precipitation, winds, and ocean currents.
Each volume begins with an overview of the world's weather patterns, average air temperatures, and average precipitation for that month. This overview also includes a list of key words and definitions essential to understanding the text. A weather hazard is presented for each month--Icing is the weather hazard in January, while Gales are a hazard in October. Each volume has an extensive section about North America's climate for the month. One map is color-coded for the average maximum temperatures in North America. Another map shows weather systems and ocean currents prevalent in the featured month. Temperature, precipitation, and important weather characteristics for eleven North American cities are compared each month.
One interesting feature of these books is the emphasis on weather around the world, which may be a conceptual challenge for students. Climate and weather is described each month for South America, Europe, Oceania and Hawaii, Africa and Middle East, and Asia. A different area of the world is also detailed each month. Kathmandu, Nepal is featured in May, while Singapore is described in March. Average daily temperatures, rainfall, hours of sunshine, and important weather characteristics are given for these featured areas for all 12 months of the year. You could plan your vacation from the detailed description of the weather!
Each volume has an outstanding, detailed glossary of weather and climate vocabulary as well as an index that references all 12 volumes. The color photographs of places around the world add to the experience, and the hundreds of maps and charts make an interesting subject fascinating. Students will find these books ideal for researching meteorology and geography, and educators will find them useful in explaining weather phenomena in easy-to-understand terms. Well researched, well written, and accurate, these volumes would be an invaluable resource for every school.
Review posted on 12/27/2001
|