For many Americans, Katrina's deadly destructiveness offered a first harrowing lesson in the power of hurricanes. For those living along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina was one more disastrous encounter with an overwhelming force of nature. As evidence mounts that these tropical cyclones will only grow more frequent and intense, this book offers a much-needed opportunity to understand the workings of hurricanes. Two recognized authorities on climate and weather gives readers a close look at hurricanes past and present, from the historic Galveston storm of 1900 to the devastating Katrina. Along with near-incredible stories of damage wreaked and lives altered, this book provides a clear and concise introduction to the mechanics of the storms. In scientifically accurate but easily comprehensible terms, the authors explain the formidable wind speed, the heavy rains, and the eye of the hurricane, all accompanied by detailed diagrams and spectacular color photographs. Their work makes it possible for readers to make informed decisions about a natural phenomenon that increasingly affects our lives.

The author once fell backwards, on skis, at night, into a latrine during a snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains. That's just one of the stories in this 20-year tale of wilderness education. This book aims to entertain and edify, captivate and compel. It's also laugh-out-loud funny, with echoes of Patrick F. McManus and Bill Heavey. Combining anecdotes of over two decades of outdoor education experience with thoughtful narrative context, the author offers tales of adventure that both experienced mountain guides and armchair enthusiasts can dig into with abandon. From the swampy backcountry of Florida to the soaring Sierra; the chilly gray waters of Puget sound to rocky scrambles in the Green Mountains, this book takes the reader on a hilarious journey through epic landscapes guided by a hapless outdoor teacher. No matter how suburban or urban our upbringing, we've all experienced the fear of strange noises in the night, inedible food cooked outdoors, and surviving when the nearest flush toilet is miles away. We can all relate to the mishaps and exploits experienced in the great wide world.

John Fowles (1926-2005) is widely regarded as one of the preeminent English novelists of the twentieth century--his books have sold millions of copies worldwide, been turned into beloved films, and been popularly voted among the 100 greatestnovels of the century.

To a smaller yet no less passionate audience, Fowles is also known for having written The Tree, one of his few works of nonfiction. First published a generation ago, it is a provocative meditation on the connection between the natural world and human creativity, and a powerful argument against taming the wild. In it, Fowles recounts his own childhood in England and describes how he rebelled against his Edwardian father's obsession with the "quantifiable yield" of well-pruned fruit trees and came to prize instead the messy, purposeless beauty of nature left to its wildest.

The Tree is an inspiring, even life-changing book, like Lewis Hyde's The Gift, one that reaffirms our connection to nature and reminds us of the pleasure of getting lost, the merits of having no plan, and the wisdom of following one's nose wherever it may lead--in life as much as in art.

Learn basic Python programming to create functional and effective visualizations from earth observation satellite data sets Thousands of satellite datasets are freely available online, but scientists need the right tools to efficiently analyze data and share results. Python has easy-to-learn syntax and thousands of libraries to perform common Earth science programming tasks. Earth Observation Using Python: A Practical Programming Guide presents an example-driven collection of basic methods, applications, and visualizations to process satellite data sets for Earth science research. Gain Python fluency using real data and case studies Read and write common scientific data formats, like netCDF, HDF, and GRIB2 Create 3-dimensional maps of dust, fire, vegetation indices and more Learn to adjust satellite imagery resolution, apply quality control, and handle big files Develop useful workflows and learn to share code using version control Acquire skills using online interactive code available for all examples in the book The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals. Find out more about this book from this Q&A with the Author

From the hair of a famous dead poet to botanical ornaments and meat pies, the subjects of this book are dynamic, organic artifacts. A cross-disciplinary collection of essays, Organic Supplements examines the interlaced relationships between natural things and human beings in early modern and eighteenth-century Europe. The material qualities of things as living organisms - and things that originate from living organisms - enabled a range of critical actions and experiences to take place for the people who wore, used, consumed, or perceived them.