Books on meteorology, storm chasing and climate

[TWISTED GILL]

I thought I would start compiling a book list for those interested in learning more about the weather at all different levels. Some of these books I have and can highly recommend and there are a few on my Amazon wish list I will continue to update the lists and if anyone has a book they recommend to the collection you can send me a message and I will add it.

Beginners, for those who are new to the principle behind what we see as the weather and wanting to get a better understanding of our Climate. Retail between £10 - £30.

The World of Weather – Brian Cosgrove

How to Understand the Skies – Richard Hamblyn

Weather – Met Office

The Weather Handbook – Alan Watts

The AMS Weather Book, The Ultimate Guide to America’s Weather – J Williams

Introductory Text Book of Meteorology – Alexander Buchan

Atmosphere, Weather and Climate – Rodger Barry and Richard Chorley

Environmental Physics – Claire Smith

Tornado Alley – Howard B. Bluestein

Under the Whirlwind - Arjen Verkaik

Hunting Nature’s Fury – Rodger Hill and Peter Bronski



Intermediate, for those who have got to grips with the basic concepts and science behind the weather, the majority of these books are recommended reading for University level study of Meteorology, you will find that you are talked through the more complex Mathematical and Physics equations but are expected to know the basics. These books can retail between £30 - £150

Meteorology Today – Donald Aherns

An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics – David G. Andrews

Essentials of Meteorology – Donald Aherns

An introduction to Dynamic Meteorology – James R. Holton

An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology – Roland B. Stull

Assessing Climate Change – Donald Rapp

Physics of Lightning – D. J. Malan

Thunderstorm – John McBrewster, Fredrick P. Millar and Agnes F. Vandome.

Storm Chasers Handbooks - Tim Vasquez



Advanced, for those either studying Advanced level Meteorology, Climatology or have a specialised interest. These books contain University level Mathematics and Physics, it is also expected that you have a developed understanding of meteorology before reading them in order to understand the concepts they are trying to explain. These books retail from anywhere between £50 - £250.

Introduction to Micrometeorology – Paul S. Arya and James R. Holton

Mesoscale Meteorology in Mid Latitudes - Paul m. Markowski and Yvette P. Richardson

Lightning, Physics and Effect – Vladimir A. Rakov and Martin A. Uman

The Lightning discharge – Martin A. Uman

Severe Convective Storms and Tornadoes – Howard B. Bluestein

Sprites, Elves and Intense lightning discharges - Martin Füllekrug, Eugene A. Mareev, and Michael J. Rycroft


For those of you who are interested you can buy and download university texts on Meteorology.

I have to admit that I am a fan of Martin Uman’s research and lectures on severe convective storms, most of his research papers can be downloaded for a small fee, but it is worth the money.