What is a Distrail?
A distrail is the clear path through a cloud formed in the wake of an aircraft. Distrails form because the aircraft turns the water droplets…
Tag: Secret World of Weather
Why is visibility so good in the mountains?
Many visitors to cold mountains are struck by the amazing visibility. The visibility is so good that it can trick the brain into thinking things…
Three Generations of Nature Readers
My thanks to Kareem Dieng and his family for reading my books. That’s Kareem with The Secret World of Weather, ‘Pops’ reading Lost Art of…
The Secret World of Weather – Paperback Out!
The paperback of The Secret World of Weather is out today – in the UK! I am very excited by that and this morning’s weather…
A Plein-Air Artists’ Manual
One of the great joys of natural navigation is that it intrigues such a wide variety of people, something it shares with food. We can’t…
Which Way Are We Looking? Basketball Edition
I walked out this morning into a white and frosty world to discover lots of interesting patterns in the land. Two questions: What direction are…
Snow that Survives
There is plenty of snow on this tree stump, but very little nearby, why? The stump means that the tree that was once there has…
What is a Frost Hollow?
A frost hollow is a local low point in a landscape where cold dense air collects overnight. It is also known as a ‘frost pocket’.…
The 75 Best Books of 2021
The Secret World of Weather has made The Telegraph’s ‘The 75 Best Books of 2021‘. You might also enjoy: How to Find Your Way Using…
A Big Green Dew Machine
My thanks to Peter Gibbs for this gem of an email: I thought you might like this observation from today. I’ve been working in the…
Which Way Are We Looking? Budleigh Salteron Edition
My thanks to everyone who joined me for my talk on The Secret World of Weather at the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival on Friday. It…
What is the Planetary Boundary Layer?
From The Secret World of Weather: The lowest part of the atmosphere is the only area strongly influenced by the sun’s radiative heating of the…
The Meaning of Cloud Streets
On a flight back from Spain to the UK, we were treated to a great display of “cloud streets” over France. They form parallel to…
Weather, navigation and hunting in Oregon
An interesting email exchange with Gary from Oregon, shared with permission: Tristan, I am very much enjoying your new book, “The Secret World of Weather”. …
When clouds appear like rocks and towers…
… the Earth’s refreshed by frequent showers. It is so rewarding when weather lore helps us remember a clue. It is doubly satisfying when this…
What is a Gap Wind?
Whenever a wind is forced through a narrow gap it accelerates. This is true of all fluids, gas and liquid, it is the reason we…
The Audiobook is Out Today!
The audiobook of The Secret World of Weather is out now! Normally the audiobook and hardback come out at the same time, but Covid ruined that plan. Wicked…
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival
New Event: The Secret World of Weather. Tristan Gooley will speak at the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, Devon, on his latest book, The Secret World of…
Animal Weather Signs in Montana
My thanks to Dean for this very interesting pair of emails from dry cow country, Montana, USA: Tristan, I’m getting to the last fifty pages…
Nature’s Clues & Signs 3 – Soho Walkabout
A couple of weeks ago I was staying in central London for a week, mainly to record the audiobook version of my latest book, The…
The Foehn Fish
Another very interesting email from Prof. Otta Wenskus: Hi Tristan, I just read your paragraph on altocumulus lenticularis. Sadly, while Ifind them beautiful, my feelings…