Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones

by David Longshore

Book Overview

This book helps you discover the tumultuous and exciting world of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. The science, history, and culture of tropical cyclones around the globe have evolved considerably... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816033986
• ISBN13: 9780816033980
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Facts on File
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 8.7" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

ON TARGET

It doesn't take an extensive search to see this encyclopedia is crafted as it should have been. We find articles here on historic storms, hot spot locations, hurricane dynamics and tracking technology. Longshore made sure not to leave anything out. Cyclone enthusiasts must be sure to keep a copy on the shelf. While text entries are often extensive, though, I found myself wanting a little more at many points. Too often the articles ended abruptly without the reader having a full sense of the subject's importance. This is not a major flaw but could have been avoided by a better writer. The book also misses a five star rating for errors. I was not as bothered by them as others, but that's probably because I subconciously skipped over them. Needles to say, an Encyclopedia must be accurate and well edited. Perhaps the mistakes have been corrected in the latest editions.

Everything you want to know.

It's all here, from explanations of the naming systems to the role of animals as harbingers, scavengers, and weathervanes in tropical storms. The information is comprehensive and laid out handily, with tracking maps, easy-to-follow meteorological explanations, and clear drawings and charts to provide all the data anyone is likely to need. There are also useful appendices with safety precautions, a chronology of major hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, and tropical storms, a bibliography, good index, photos, and more. This is an essential work for residents of vulnerable areas, a fine reference for students and libraries, and a fine gift for that storm buff. (The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)