The Air and its Secrets

A history of atmospheric science

Guy P. Brasseur

AIR, this invisible medium that surrounds us, makes life possible. According to Baudelaire, air ‘is full of the thrill of things that flee’; indeed, it holds a multitude of secrets that philosophers, naturalists and other scientists have tried to unravel over the centuries. In this book, the author outlines the major scientific advances that have led to the discovery of the physical properties and chemical composition of air, the dynamic properties of the Earth’s atmosphere, the mechanisms that lead to the formation of storms and other weather events, and the natural and anthropogenic processes responsible for climate change, ozone depletion and air quality.