There appear to be few publications out there which attempt to give a nuanced narrative of plate tectonics, while attempting to make the science more accessible. One of the best attempts is Livermore’s book. His style is one of a little humour and wit, where you can dive into the broader history of the science or explore the wider implications of tectonic processes. The link given here gives a worthwhile review of the book, especially noting the current hot debate on the mechanisms that drive plate tectonics. 

I would consider this book an extended glossary, which is handy for a subject that can get fairly messy in physics, mathematics and chemistry. You can pick it up and go straight to the term or process of interest, where you will find a simple definition, a summarised explanation and often a titbit of facts or history. While the illustrations are more for creative licence, they are often diagrammatic enough to help visualise the processes being described. Plus, they are quite pretty! 

I have used passages from both these books when teaching high-school students about extreme weather. For example, in Cold, while Streever tells the tale of the likes of the School Children’s Blizzard of 1888, nested within are other stories of the importance of cold and discoveries made because of the cold.

For me, it helps to develop an appreciation that cold may not just mean blizzards, and heat may not just mean heatwaves and trips to the beach. In my opinion, developing a greater appreciation for ‘cold’ and ‘heat’, helps to also appreciate the hazards that come with them. 

A unique and beautifully crafted book. In all my years of studying weather and climate, I had never come across anything like it. The book is full of tales about how weather shapes our world and impacts on our daily lives. Each chapter focuses on a particular element of the weather, wind, heat etc. The visual art are conversation pieces in themselves and provide rich and thought-provoking stimuli for discussion and exploration. Redniss references all the articles and research used, to allow for further reading.

I have had the privilege of visiting Yellowstone National Park in the USA a number of times, including taking a group of high-school Geography students there. The landscape and ecosystem is truly majestic, but it is also one which is potentially fragile and in need of conservation. In 1988, a wildfire consumed 800,000 acres, just over a third of the park. But since Yellowstone is a relative wilderness, there was an opportunity to study how the ecosystem would naturally recover and adapt. Henry documented a 25-year period since the fire, including amazing imagery, to show how wildfire is a natural part of an ecosystem, despite its apparent malevolence. 

This clip explains how tornadoes are formed, how they move, and what their effects can be.