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Featuring three thousand essential facts and figures, illustrated with more than fifty color photographs and diagrams, this entertaining and informative guide explains how the weather shapes our planet and affects all our lives. From the weather you face each day to the glory of rainbows and lightning and the drama of tornadoes, solar storms, and monsoons, Michael Bright explores:- How clouds develop- What makes the wind blow- Why no two snowflakes are the same- What causes tornadoes- Why deserts are so dry and rainforests so wet- What the El Niño effect is- How rainbows form- How to read a weather map and much more.After marveling at lightning, explaining thunder, and finding there is no end of the rainbow, Bright investigates how weather will become even more important in the future, both as a result of climate change, and because of new ways of harnessing the awesome power of nature to generate energy.