Air Apparent: How meteorologists learned to map, predict, and dramatize weather

This book contains twelve chapters, an appendix with two dozen useful web addresses, an extensive set of notes that expand on specific sections of the text, and an index. This is a well-written and well-illustrated book that covers, mainly through a lucid account of the historical evolution of weather maps and observation systems, the key points in the history of the science of meteorology principally over the last 150 years or so. I like the way that the discussion often incorporates the `philosophical' movements in the science that were related to changes in mapping etc. It deals not only with important developments in North America but also with contemporaneous action in Europe so is of wide geographical appeal. In my view it should appeal to all meteorologists who want to know where their subject has `come from'; additionally it will be very interesting to historians of science as a not-too-technical introduction. The text opens with chapters that summarize the early work to establish widespread surface observation, how they were brought together to illustrate the scale of weather systems, and the critical role played by the electric telegraph in the mid-nineteenth century - `critical' in the sense that data have to be transmitted rapidly and reliably to processing centres. Chapters on the gradual improvement of networks follow, including the establishment of weather satellite and radar platforms. The role of modern, powerful computers in advancing our fundamental understanding and the quality of forecasts is stressed, as is the more recent development of TV weather channels and weather websites. The historical flow of the text makes the book engaging, and is complemented by the `Notes' section at the back, which often points to the original source of the material under discussion in addition to the author's comments. I recommend this text to specialists and non-specialists alike. Ross Reynolds