The Weather Experiment - The Pioneers who Sought to see the Future

**Book of the Week on Radio 4**'Gripping' The Times'Exhilarating' Sunday TimesIn an age when a storm was evidence of God's wrath, pioneering meteorologists had to fight against convention and religious dogma to realise their ambitions. But buoyed by the achievements of the Enlightenment, a generation of mavericks set out to unlock the secrets of the atmosphere. Meet Luke Howard, the first to classify the clouds, Francis Beaufort, quantifier of the winds, James Glaisher, explorer of the upper atmosphere by way of a hot air balloon, Samuel Morse, whose electric telegraph gave scientists the means by which to transmit weather warnings, and at the centre of it all Admiral Robert FitzRoy: master sailor, scientific pioneer and founder of the Met Office. Peter Moore's exhilarating account navigates treacherous seas, rough winds and uncovers the obsession that drove these men to great invention and greater understanding.

Summary

In an age when a storm was evidence of God's wrath, pioneering meteorologists had to fight against convention and religious dogma to realise their ambitions. This book features Luke Howard, the first to classify the clouds, Francis Beaufort, quantifier of the winds, and, James Glaisher, explorer of the upper atmosphere by way of a hot air balloon.

Report

Richly researched, exciting... It is both scientific and cultural history, of prizewinning potential and as fresh and exhilarating throughout as a strong sea breeze. James McConnachie Sunday Times

Product details

• Authors: Peter Moore
• Publisher: Vintage UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 31.05.2016
• EAN: 9780099581673
• ISBN: 978-0-09-958167-3
• No. of pages: 432
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 26 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > General, dictionaries; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Non-fiction book > Nature, technology > Natural science; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, HISTORY / Modern / 19th Century, SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / Meteorology & Climatology, SCIENCE / Natural History, HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, True stories: discovery / historical / scientific, c 1500 onwards to present day, Weather, Weather and climate: general interest, History and Archaeology, True stories of discovery