Indiana's Weather and Climate
Will be published approx. on 23. June 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-253-22056-1 (ISBN)
Description
There's more to Indiana weather than what greets us when we go outdoors. Ever wonder why the daily weather report is so erratic? Why the seasons seem to come too early or start too late? Whether there really is such a thing as global warming? This fascinating and informative book tells the story behind the daily forecast, seasonal variations, and climate change. It explains why there are seasons in this part of the world and examines some of their more dramatic aspects-thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and snowstorms. Here you'll find information on forecasting, weather satellites, and data collection; on faraway events that influence Indiana's weather, such as El Nino; and on long- and short-term changes in Indiana's climate beginning more than 1,000 years ago. Air pollution, urban heat islands, "the LaPorte anomaly"-it's all here in this comprehensive and up-to-date reference.
Reviews / Votes
"Created by Oliver (emer., Indiana State), the editor of the Encyclopedia of World Climatology (CH, Mar'06, 43-3766), this detailed, glossy reference work is an excellent source of information on the weather and climate of Indiana. The book's topical arrangement by season allows it to act as a springboard to the type of weather one would typically encounter throughout the year, such as tornadoes in spring and continental and lake-effect snows in winter. The seasonal chapters are punctuated by short articles of interest highlighting specific topics or techniques to study weather and climate. Chapters on past climates, future climates, and how weather is monitored via the local offices of the National Weather Service and the Cooperative Weather Program are included. The text is written in simple, straightforward prose and is profusely illustrated with informative color pictures, maps, graphs, and charts. A glossary and bibliography of further readings round out the text. Hopefully there will be similar studies for other states or regions of the US. An essential work for libraries in Indiana and the contiguous midwestern states Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of readership. - , Wilkes University"-Choice"Oliver's book addresses many of the weather phenomena that people find so fascinating, and it delivers this information in a manner that readers without much scientific background can understand and comprehend. In short, . . . Indiana's Weather and Climate is a welcome addition to the library of any Hoosier interested in the atmosphere and its effects on the lives of the state's residents. December 1, 2010"-Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
"John Oliver has produced a record of distinguished scholarship during his career and there is tremendous need and value in this particular book for Hoosiers."-John Harrington, Jr., Kansas State University
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Bloomington, IN
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
93 color photos
Dimensions
Height: 251 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-253-22056-1 (9780253220561)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John E. Oliver (1933-2008) was Emeritus Professor of Physical Geography and Director of the Climate Laboratory at Indiana State University. He authored or edited 12 books, including The Encyclopedia of World Climatology.
Content
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1. WHY THE SEASONS?
Sun and Earth
Days, Nights and Sun in the Sky
Temperatures
Of Interest: Temperature Scales
Climatological Seasons
Clouds
Precipitation
Air in Motion
Air Masses and Fronts
The Westerlies
Jet Streams and the Seasons
In Summary
CHAPTER 2. SPRING
Thunderstorms
Airmass (Ordinary) Thunderstorms
Supercell Thunderstorms
Tornadoes: Formation and Characteristics
Tornado Intensity: The F Scale
Indiana Tornadoes (S. C. Pryor)
Tornado Forecasting - Watches and Warnings
Tornado Occurrence in Indiana
Of Interest: Storm Chasing (G. Bierly)
Where Do Tornadoes Occur?
Of Interest: Doppler Radar
When Do Tornadoes Occur?
Worst Tornadoes in Indiana History
In Summary: Tornadoes
CHAPTER 3. SUMMER
Thunder, Lightning and Hail
Lightning
Hail
Extremes I. Floods
Extreme Precipitation in Indiana (J. Howe and S.C. Pryor)
Calculating Extremes
Extremes II. Drought
Worst Case Droughts in Indiana
Of Interest: Monitoring Drought
People and Summer
Cooling Degree Days
Sunburn
Heat and Heat Waves
CHAPTER 4. FALL
A Quiet Transition Season
Autumn Leaves
Dew, Frost, Mist and Fog
Of Interest: Moisture in the Air
Air Quality (S. C. Pryor and A. M. Spalding)
Air Quality Standards
Of Interest: Five Criteria Air Pollutants
The Air Quality Index
Air Quality in Indiana
Emissions of Pollutants
Monitoring Air Quality
How Clean is Our Air?
Air Quality: In Summary
CHAPTER 5. WINTER
The Continent Effect
Winter Precipitation
Of Interest: Sound and Snow
The Lake Effect (C. Clark)
Cold Weather
Heating Degree Days
Windchill
Some Recent Severe Winters
CHAPTER 6. MONITORING THE WEATHER
Weather Sayings (R.L. Baker)
Above and Below the Sky
Rain on Sunday
Of Interest: Weather Satellites
The National Weather Service (J. Kwiatkowski)
The Work of Local Offices - The FOs
Of Interest: A TV Weather Forecast (Chuck Lofton)
The Cooperative Weather Program (R. Kenyon)
History
The Cooperative Observer
Station Requirements
Of Interest: The Historical Climate Network
Acquisition of Data
CHAPTER 7INDIANA'S PRESENT CLIMATE - THE LARGER VIEW
Connecting Climates
El Nino and La Nina
Of Interest: The Thermocline
ENSO and Indiana's Climate (G. Bierly)
The Midwestern Climate Center (K. E. Kunkel)
Climate Data
Climate Monitoring and Information Dissemination
Applied Research
CHAPTER 8. INDIANA'S PRESENT CLIMATE - THE STATE VIEW
Indiana State Climate Office
The Normal Climate (K. Scheeringa)
Temperature
Precipitation
Other Climatic Features
Recent Climate: A Common Sense Climate Index
Some Local Influences
The Urban Heat Island
Of Interest: Indianapolis Heat Island
Hills and Valleys
The LaPorte Anomaly (Z. Payne)
Wind Power in Indiana (S. Stadler)
CHAPTER 9. INDIANA'S PAST CLIMATES
Reading the Past
Ice Age Indiana
Ice Events in Indiana
The Last 1000 Years of Indiana's Climate (J. Speer)
Of Interest: Time Keeping
Indiana: Climate Interpretations
A Pollen Study
A Lake Core Study
1000 Years - Concluding Comments
Indiana Diaries and Letters (C. Craig)
Interpreting the Records
Example of an Indiana Climate Reconstruction
The Last 100 Years
CHAPTER 10. INDIANA'S FUTURE CLIMATES
The IPCC and Protocols
Modeling the Future
Global Warming
Of Interest: Future US Climates
Indiana's Future Climate
Of Interest: EPA Assessment
Impacts of Climate Change in Indiana
Summary
CONVERSION TABLES
GLOSSARY
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES and WORKS CITED
INDEX
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1. WHY THE SEASONS?
Sun and Earth
Days, Nights and Sun in the Sky
Temperatures
Of Interest: Temperature Scales
Climatological Seasons
Clouds
Precipitation
Air in Motion
Air Masses and Fronts
The Westerlies
Jet Streams and the Seasons
In Summary
CHAPTER 2. SPRING
Thunderstorms
Airmass (Ordinary) Thunderstorms
Supercell Thunderstorms
Tornadoes: Formation and Characteristics
Tornado Intensity: The F Scale
Indiana Tornadoes (S. C. Pryor)
Tornado Forecasting - Watches and Warnings
Tornado Occurrence in Indiana
Of Interest: Storm Chasing (G. Bierly)
Where Do Tornadoes Occur?
Of Interest: Doppler Radar
When Do Tornadoes Occur?
Worst Tornadoes in Indiana History
In Summary: Tornadoes
CHAPTER 3. SUMMER
Thunder, Lightning and Hail
Lightning
Hail
Extremes I. Floods
Extreme Precipitation in Indiana (J. Howe and S.C. Pryor)
Calculating Extremes
Extremes II. Drought
Worst Case Droughts in Indiana
Of Interest: Monitoring Drought
People and Summer
Cooling Degree Days
Sunburn
Heat and Heat Waves
CHAPTER 4. FALL
A Quiet Transition Season
Autumn Leaves
Dew, Frost, Mist and Fog
Of Interest: Moisture in the Air
Air Quality (S. C. Pryor and A. M. Spalding)
Air Quality Standards
Of Interest: Five Criteria Air Pollutants
The Air Quality Index
Air Quality in Indiana
Emissions of Pollutants
Monitoring Air Quality
How Clean is Our Air?
Air Quality: In Summary
CHAPTER 5. WINTER
The Continent Effect
Winter Precipitation
Of Interest: Sound and Snow
The Lake Effect (C. Clark)
Cold Weather
Heating Degree Days
Windchill
Some Recent Severe Winters
CHAPTER 6. MONITORING THE WEATHER
Weather Sayings (R.L. Baker)
Above and Below the Sky
Rain on Sunday
Of Interest: Weather Satellites
The National Weather Service (J. Kwiatkowski)
The Work of Local Offices - The FOs
Of Interest: A TV Weather Forecast (Chuck Lofton)
The Cooperative Weather Program (R. Kenyon)
History
The Cooperative Observer
Station Requirements
Of Interest: The Historical Climate Network
Acquisition of Data
CHAPTER 7INDIANA'S PRESENT CLIMATE - THE LARGER VIEW
Connecting Climates
El Nino and La Nina
Of Interest: The Thermocline
ENSO and Indiana's Climate (G. Bierly)
The Midwestern Climate Center (K. E. Kunkel)
Climate Data
Climate Monitoring and Information Dissemination
Applied Research
CHAPTER 8. INDIANA'S PRESENT CLIMATE - THE STATE VIEW
Indiana State Climate Office
The Normal Climate (K. Scheeringa)
Temperature
Precipitation
Other Climatic Features
Recent Climate: A Common Sense Climate Index
Some Local Influences
The Urban Heat Island
Of Interest: Indianapolis Heat Island
Hills and Valleys
The LaPorte Anomaly (Z. Payne)
Wind Power in Indiana (S. Stadler)
CHAPTER 9. INDIANA'S PAST CLIMATES
Reading the Past
Ice Age Indiana
Ice Events in Indiana
The Last 1000 Years of Indiana's Climate (J. Speer)
Of Interest: Time Keeping
Indiana: Climate Interpretations
A Pollen Study
A Lake Core Study
1000 Years - Concluding Comments
Indiana Diaries and Letters (C. Craig)
Interpreting the Records
Example of an Indiana Climate Reconstruction
The Last 100 Years
CHAPTER 10. INDIANA'S FUTURE CLIMATES
The IPCC and Protocols
Modeling the Future
Global Warming
Of Interest: Future US Climates
Indiana's Future Climate
Of Interest: EPA Assessment
Impacts of Climate Change in Indiana
Summary
CONVERSION TABLES
GLOSSARY
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES and WORKS CITED
INDEX