Why is our climate so turbulent—and why does our weather appear to be getting worse? What exactly is the El Nino and what are its consequences? How serious is the global warming trend, and can it be reversed? These and many related questions are discussed in this account of recent floods and droughts, catastrophic forest fires, an epidemic of unusually violent hurricanes, and rising sea levels created by the melting polar ice caps. An authority on violent weather patterns explains these phenomena and much more. He also describes different storm types, including hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and monsoons. An enlightening chapter helps readers understand scientific methods of measuring the weather and predicting storms. There are also accounts of freak storms, methods of rescuing storm victims, and lesser-known environmental problems such as the threat posed by gas hydrates, which could contribute to a runaway global greenhouse effect. An absorbing text is supplemented with more than 200 dramatic photos and illustrations.