Synopses & Reviews
This fascinating exploration of atmospheric physics presents over 25 experiments that let readers observe and reproduce natural phenomena with simple materials at home or in the classroom. In a captivating, conversational tone, it explores topics in meteorological optics, including rainbows, coronas, color of sky and sea, visibility, cloud physics, and basic physics relevant to the atmosphere. A scientific or mathematical background is not required.
Table of Contents
Clouds in a Glass of Beer.
Genies in Jars, Clouds in Bottles, and a Bucket with a Hole in It.
Happy Ducks, Like Happy People, Perform Best with Cool Heads.
Sugar and Spice: The Dirty Wet-bulb Temperature.
Mixing Clouds.
Conceptions and Misconceptions of Pressure.
Dew Drops on a Bathroom Mirror.
A Murder in Ceylon.
The Freezing of Lakes.
The Greenhouse Effect.
Black Clouds.
Once in a Blue Moon.
The Green Flash.
Multiple Scattering at the Breakfast Table.
Multiple Scattering at the Beach.
On a Clear Day You Can't See Forever.
A Serendipitous Iridescent Cloud.
Physics on a Manure Heap: More About Black Clouds.
Polarization of Skylight.
Colors of the Sea.
Indoor Rainbows.
Why Rainbows are Not Impossible in Winter.
Index