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Atmosphere, The: An Introduction to Meteorology, 14th edition

Published by Pearson (January 31, 2018) © 2019

  • Frederick K Lutgens
  • Edward J. Tarbuck (Emeritus) Illinois Central College
  • Redina Herman

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For introductory meteorology courses.

A clear learning path and active learning tools

The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology presents basic meteorology concepts with easy-to-grasp, everyday examples. Authors Lutgens and Tarbuck, with new author Redina Herman, present meteorology with a friendly narrative, coverage of recent atmospheric events, and artwork crafted by science illustrator Dennis Tasa.

The 14th Edition provides a clear learning path using an easy-to-navigate design and a student-oriented approach. New features include end-of-chapter questions and problems to help students understand processes that control our weather and apply this information in their daily lives.

Hallmark features of this title

  • A highlighted learning path begins with chapter-opening Focus on Concepts learning goals:
    • Concept Check questions serve as conceptual checkpoints, prompting students to assess their understanding as they read.
    • End-of-chapter Give It Some Thought questions ask students to use higher-level thinking and incorporate chapter visuals.
    • End-of-chapter Concepts in Review tie back to the learning goals, summarize key points, and incorporate visual cues to aid recall and understanding.
  • Unparalleled visual program features photos and satellite images that highlights recent weather events. 129 new or redrawn figures by illustrator Dennis Tasa help students clarify concepts.

New and updated features of this title

  • 1-2 Pull Quotes in every section highlight key concepts that tie to the chapter-opening objectives and serve as learning path guideposts.
  • Review Questions promote deeper thinking than Concepts in Review and provide students with an opportunity to test their understanding of the entire chapter.
  • Severe and Hazardous Weather boxes include Weather Safety tips and active-learning questions to help students test their understanding and link the events to chapter concepts.
  • REVISED: The chapters on Severe Weather (10 and 11) have been extensively updated and include vibrant new images of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
  • REVISED: End-of-chapter Concepts in Review tie back to the learning goals, summarize the main points, and incorporate visual cues to aid with recall and understanding. These reviews bring the learning path full circle for students.
  • Beyond the Textbook end-of-chapter exercises feature 1-2 links to websites with atmospheric, weather, or climate data. The exercises ask questions based on current conditions or a specific locale and provide practice in data analysis.

Features of Mastering Meteorology for the 8th Edition

  • NEW: MapMaster 2.0 Interactive Map Activities. inspired by GIS, allow students to layer various thematic maps to analyze spatial patterns and data at regional and global scales. This tool allows students to geolocate themselves in the data and upload their own data for map making.
  • Interactive Media Modules accompany many of the exercises to help students get hands on with interactive simulations and data visualization.
  • UPDATED: Video Activities from sources such as the BBC, Financial Times, and Television for the Environment's Life and Earth Report series, provide applied real-world examples.
  • GeoTutor Activities help students master the most challenging geography concepts with highly visual, kinesthetic activities focused on critical thinking, data analysis and the application of concepts.
  • SmartFigures™ are brief, narrated video lessons that examine and explain concepts illustrated by key figures within the text. These are available in the Study Area of Mastering Meteorology, and teachers can assign them through quizzing.
  • GEODe Activities provide an interactive visual walkthrough of each chapter's core content through animation, videos, illustrations, photographs, and narration. Created by Denise Tasa, activities include assessment questions with hints and wrong-answer feedback.
  1. Introduction to the Atmosphere
  2. Heating Earth's Surface and Atmosphere
  3. Temperature
  4. Moisture and Atmospheric Stability
  5. Forms of Condensation and Precipitation
  6. Air Pressure and Winds
  7. Circulation of the Atmosphere
  8. Air Masses
  9. Midlatitude Cyclones
  10. Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
  11. Hurricanes
  12. Weather Analysis and Forecasting
  13. Air Pollution
  14. The Changing Climate
  15. World Climates
  16. Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere

APPENDICES

  1. Metric Units
  2. Explanation and Decoding of the Daily Weather Map
  3. Relative Humidity and Dew-Point Tables
  4. Laws Relating to Gases
  5. Newton's Laws, Pressure--Gradient Force, and Coriolis Force
  6. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
  7. Climate Data

About our authors

Fred Lutgens received his BS and MS from Illinois State University. Ed Tarbuck received his BS from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and his MA from Indiana University. Both are professors emeriti from Illinois Central College. They have been good friends and colleagues since 1970. Joining Lutgens and Tarbuck for the first time in the 14th edition is Redina Herman who received her PhD from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Between them, they have more than 60 years of experience teaching geoscience to undergraduates, and both have been recognized with awards as excellent and inspiring professors.

Lutgens and Tarbuck published their first college text, Earth Science, in 1976. That book, winner of the McGuffy Award from the Text and Academic Authors Association, is now in its 15th edition. In 1983, as the first edition of Earth was being prepared, renowned geoscience illustrator Dennis Tasa joined the author team. Since then the three have collaborated on more than 30 projects as the dominant author team franchise in the physical geosciences.

Redina Herman has a PhD in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has been teaching introductory and advanced meteorology courses for 15 years. Redina is involved in science education research and won the Western Illinois University College of Arts and Sciences award for Teaching with Technology. Redina is also Western Illinois University's representative to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which runs the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). She adds a great deal of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the team.

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