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35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!, 25 Dec 2006
Any aviator would tell you about the importance of the need to have a thorough understanding of the different types of clouds, how they are formed, and most especially, what they are telling us.
Look up in the sky and you'll see that each and every bit of cloud is telling us a different story, in addition to the spectacle you see right before your eyes.
Needless to say, it would be most foolish of any pilot not to fully understand the implication of the different types of clouds whilst on the ground, before a flight, as well as whilst in the air.
My interest in the clouds started a few years ago due to a near-miss air accident whilst learning to fly GA aircraft. My instructor and I nearly got sucked into the clouds, due to the fact that he, my instructor, being the pilot in command, failed to maintain the specified distance from the clouds whilst flying under VFR. Needless to say, we were lucky to get out of the way of the swelling cumulus which seemed to be coming after us as we were about to be sucked in. Phew, never again with a cloud suck!!
Having that bad experience and now flying the most personal form of aircraft, I searched around for a good book about the clouds. Luckily, I stumbled on this one and then decided to buy it.
Wow, what a book! This is a must-have for all pilots as well as anybody that's interested in the clouds. All credits to its author, Dr John A. Day, for his exposition of the subject like no other. He is indeed, the 'Cloud doctor'.
The author does not ramble on about the different cloud types, (that, indeed, would be most boring), rather, he gives a very short introduction to a particular type of cloud as well as the cloud family to which it belongs. This is then followed by photographs, more photographs and indeed more photographs.
Regarding each and every type of cloud, there's a very small but most important insert, showing its key characteristics, such as group, name, base, top, air mass stability, buoyancy, moisture content, temperature, frontal lift and precipitation type.
The key thing that sets this book apart from all the others out there is, its simplicity as well as the many photographs on each and every type of cloud formation that there is out there. So, so many photographs, you wouldn't believe it.
The best part is that most (if not all), of the photographs were actually taken by the author, who worked in the aviation industry until his retirement.
If you really need to understand the clouds, this is the book for you. It is a great book, bar none, in my humble opinion. Here's what I'd advice you to do inorder to get the most out of the book:
1. Firstly, read through the book from cover to cover.
2. Next, re-read it slowly and pay more attention.
3. Finally, close the book and leave it on your desk.
4. When you wake up from bed in the morning, just look out of your window and look at the sky. See if you can identify the type of cloud formation you see up there.
5. Can you identify the type of cloud? If so, what are its characteristics? If not, quickly refer to the book that's on your desk. Can you identify the cloud now after referring to the book? The photographs are all there for you to see. Do this as many times as possible until you really get to know the clouds. This is a must.
6. Are you a pilot? If so, after identifying the cloud, what would you say are its implications for flying? You really ought to get to grips with this aspect 'cos it's most crucial.
This is a superb book. Buy it if you can manage to get hold of it 'cos it sells like hot cake.
Ibiduo Chris Berepiki.
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