Includes bibliographical references and index.

Heat and moisture in the atmosphere -- The dynamic atmosphere -- energy, motion and the creation of weather systems -- Observing weather from the Earth's surface -- Observation from space: the view from above -- Climates of the mid-latitudes -- Tropical climates. "Understanding Weather shows how it is possible to understand weather and climate by combining our ability to observe weather systems from the earth's surface with visualization from above - notably by means of satellite imagery. This fusion of human observation with the capabilities of remote sensing gives us a new perspective for exploring the three dimensional atmosphere. Remote sensing imagery and real-time weather information are now widely available through the internet, allowing the reader to relate the case studies to today's weather situation."--Jacket.