The Secret World of Weather : How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop

Learn to "see" the forecast in the hidden weather signs all around you—from the New York Times– bestselling author of How to Read a Tree and The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs In The Secret World of Weather , bestselling author Tristan Gooley turns his gaze up to the sky, bringing his signature brand of close observation and eye-opening deduction to the fascinating world of weather. Every cloud, every change in temperature, every raindrop, every sunbeam, every breeze reveals something about our weather—if you know what to look for. Before you know it, you'll be able to forecast impending storms, sunny days, and everything in between, all without needing to consult your smartphone. But The Secret World of Weather goes far beyond mere weather prediction, changing the very way we think about weather itself. Weather is not something that blankets an area; rather, it changes constantly as you walk through woods or turn down a street. The weather is never identical on two sides of a tree—or even beneath it. Take, for example, Gooley's remarkable discovery that breezes accelerate beneath a tree. To Gooley, this is "weather," a tiny microclimate that explains why people sit beneath a tree to cool down—not only for the shade but, subconsciously, for cooler breeze. And so Gooley shows us not only what the weather will be like five days from now, but also what to expect about the weather around every corner. By carefully observing the subtle interplay of wind, cloud, fog, temperature, rain and many other phenomena, we not only form a deeper understanding of weather patterns, but also unlock secrets about our environment. Weather forms our landscape, and landscape forms our weather. Everything we see in the sky reflects where we are. When we learn to read weather's signs, Gooley shows us, the weather becomes our map, revealing to us how it has made our towns, cities, woods, and hills what they are. You'll never see your surroundings the same way again. The most astonishing collection of weather signs ever assembled?from master outdoorsman Tristan Gooley In this eye-opening trove of outdoor clues, groundbreaking natural navigator Tristan Gooley turns his keen senses to the weather. By "reading" nature as he does, you?ll not only detect what the weather is doing (and predict what?s coming), you?ll enter a secret wonderland of sights and sounds you?ve never noticed before: Listen for the way crickets chirp faster as the temperature rises. Spot how snowflakes shrink with colder air and grow just before they stop falling. Let perching birds point out the direction of the wind. Learn why pine cones close up in high humidity. Watch out for storms when clouds are more tall than wide! Most fascinating of all, you?ll discover distinct microclimates with every step you take?through the woods or down a city street. There are unique weather clues to be found on opposite sides of a tree?and even beneath a blade of grass! And once you can read the forecast in every cloud, breeze, sunbeam, plant, and raindrop? You may well delete your weather app! "A guide to uncovering the mysteries of weather using close observation-decoding the ever-shifting alchemy of heat, water, and air to understand how it shapes our cities, woods, and hills"-- Provided by publisher