Spotlight On Weather and Natural Disasters

Air moves in large bodies called air masses. When two air masses bump into each other, the place where they meet is called a front. This is where weather often occurs. This fact-filled book explores air masses and fronts using age-appropriate text and full-color photographs. Students will learn where air masses form, how they move, and what happens when they meet. Different types of fronts and the weather they cause are also covered in detail. Primary sources add depth and provide students with real-life examples of air masses and fronts in action.

Earth's water has been recycled for more than 4 billion years. This is thanks to the water cycle, a continuous system in which water moves between bodies of water, the atmosphere, and land. Students will learn about the different states of water and the processes water undergoes as it moves through the water cycle. Colorful photographs and informational diagrams help students visualize the movement of water on Earth. Primary sources add depth to the text by providing real-life examples of this fascinating topic.

Weather can take a turn for the worse with little to no warning. Following severe or extreme weather patterns has proven to be a great, albeit dangerous, way to study weather conditions. Some people even choose to chase extreme weather out of curiosity alone. This book provides information about different types of storm chasers, the technology they use, and the reasons they choose to put their lives in the path of danger. Primary sources and full-color photographs aid readers in understanding just how extreme weather can be.

Earth's atmospheric layers include the exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere. How and why have scientists divided Earth's atmosphere into these layers? What exactly are these layers made up of? What happens in each layer? Readers will learn the answers to these questions and more in this enriching text that supports curricular science studies. Readers will identify the various traits of each of the atmospheric layers, ascertain their functions, and appreciate their significance in regulating conditions on Earth.

Predicting the weather hasn't always been possible, and even today it isn't always accurate. However, meteorologists do their best to study past and current weather patterns to make educated guesses about how the weather may be in the near future. Meteorologists use a number of tools to help them forecast the weather, such as weather balloons, satellites, and Doppler radar. Readers will learn that these tools help meteorologists forecast the weather and may also help them save lives in the event of severe weather.

Many of us have had the same moment, looking up at a puffy white could and wondering, 'what exactly is a cloud made of?' Readers will learn that water travels in a cycle. It evaporates from Earth's surface, rises into the atmosphere, cools and forms clouds, and falls back to Earth as precipitation in the form of rain or snow. By examining the water cycle, which is an essential topic in science curriculum, readers will glean a greater awareness of Earth's forces at work through relatable, real-world examples.