The flutter of a butterfly's wings in
Brazil can unleash a tornado in
Florida.” That was the conclusion
arrived at in 1972 by Edward Lorenz after
dedicating himself to the study of
meteorology and trying to find a way of
predicting meteorological phenomena that
might put the lives of people at
risk. In effect, the atmosphere
is a system so complicated
that many scientists define
it as chaotic. Any forecast
can rapidly deteriorate
because of the wind, the
appearance of a warm
front, or an unexpected
storm. Thus, the
difference continues
to grow
geometrically, and
the reality of the
next day is not the
one that was
expected but
entirely
different: when there should have been sunshine,
there is rain; people who planned to go to the
beach find they have to shut themselves up in the
basement until the hurricane passes. All this
uncertainty causes many people who live in areas
that are besieged by hurricanes or tropical
storms to live in fear of what might happen,
because they feel very vulnerable to changes in
weather. It is also true that natural phenomena,
such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones, do
not in themselves cause catastrophes. For
example, a hurricane becomes a disaster and
causes considerable damage, deaths, and
economic losses only because it strikes a
populated area or travels over farmland. Yet in
society, the idea persists that natural phenomena
equate to death and destruction. In fact,
experience shows that we have to learn to live
with these phenomena and plan ahead for what
might happen when they occur. In this book,
along with spectacular images, you will find
useful information about the factors that
determine weather and climate, and you will be
able to understand why long-term forecasts are
so complicated. What changes are expected if
global warming continues to increase? Could the
polar ice caps melt and raise sea levels? Could
agricultural regions slowly become deserts? All
this and much more are found in the pages of the
book. We intend to arouse your curiosity about
weather and climate, forces that affect everyone.