Blow those clouds away for an attractive view of the distant horizon

Climatology textbooks, designed for students in physical geography and environmental science, for the most part used to be rather tedious, often concentrating too much on classifications and descriptions. There were exceptions to this, of which Roger Barry and Richard Chorley’s Atmosphere, Weather and Climate (which has now run to eight editions) is the most successful example. This new perspective by Greg O’Hare and his colleagues is far from tedious and will be valuable for undergraduates seeking a comprehensive, modern, well presented and interesting treatment of atmospheric science in a form that displays human relevance.

The virtue of this book is that it provides in one package a good background on atmospheric processes, regional climates, climate change and human implications. It contains a full and useful glossary, and guides to further reading and appropriate websites, though the bibliography is modest. Various case studies are presented as boxes. Most of the book is in a two-colour format, but there are a few full colour plates.

This attractive volume provides a fine entree to modern climatology, and it should stimulate students to delve further into this increasingly vibrant area.

Andrew Goudie is master of St Cross College, Oxford.