William R. Cotton

This book focuses on the dynamics of clouds and of precipitating mesoscale meteorological systems. Clouds and precipitating mesoscale systems represent some of the most important and scientifically exciting weather systems in the world. These are the systems that produce torrential rains, severe winds including downburst and tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning, and major snow storms. Forecasting such storms represents a major challenge since they are too small to be adequately resolved by conventional observing networks and numerical prediction models.

"This new edition of Human Impacts on Weather and Climate examines the scientific debates surrounding anthropogenic impacts on the Earth's climate and presents the most recent theories, data, and modeling studies. The book discusses the concepts behind deliberate human attempts to modify the weather through cloud seeding, as well as inadvertent modification of weather and climate on regional and global scales through the emission of aerosols and gases and change in land-use. The natural variability of weather and climate greatly complicates our ability to determine a clear cause-and-effect relationship to human activity. The authors examine the strengths and weaknesses of the various hypotheses regarding human impacts on global climate in simple and accessible terms." "Like the first edition, this fully revised new edition will be a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in atmospheric and environmental science, and will also appeal to policy-makers and general readers interested in how humans are affecting the global climate."--BOOK JACKET.

Estranged for years from her father and four brothers after her mother's death, Carson Cartwright is surprised when she gets a phone call from her twin brother, urging a reconciliation before their father succumbs to his final illness. Though she has spent more than a decade trying to forget her family existed, she is suddenly pulled back to the Montana ranch where she grew up. Carson discovers her brothers divided over plans to change their working ranch into a guest ranch, and their consultant, Kerry Elder, doesn't seem above using her wiles to get her way. Kerry finds that while she may have her clients right where she wants them, it's the wayward sister that may be awakening something she has long denied."--P. of cover.