A Visual Guide to Weather and Climate

Book excerpt: What changes can we expect with global warming? Could the ice caps melt and raise sea levels? Could farmland become desert? Why was it chilly and rainy today when the forecast called for mild sunshine? The atmosphere is an extremely complicated system. Any weather forecast can rapidly change because of the wind, a warm front, or an unexpected storm. In addition, many places around the world have broken their high-temperature records, while many coastal and Arctic communities are already witnessing the first severe effects of climate change. With the help of awe-inspiring photographs, infographics, and detailed diagrams, readers will learn about the factors that determine weather and climate, the difference between them, and exactly why long-term forecasts are so complicated.