Scientist in all fields agree that meteorology focuses upon the biggest, toughest and probably most exciting single subject of modern scientific inquiry: the more than four thousand million cubic miles of atmosphere whose turbulent movements make the world's varied weather. This book traces the basic circulation of heat and winds from equator to poles, and explains the many phenomena of weather, from hailstones to hurricanes. It describes how modern meteorologists, armed with such tools as radar, laser beams and computers, may change civilization itself as they make more accurate predictions and possibly modify the weather.