Treading on Thin Air – Atmospheric Physics, Forensic Meteorology, and Climate Change: How Weather Shapes Our Everyday Lives

“In this mix of memoir and popular science, Austin takes readers on a global tour and up into the heights of the stratosphere to learn about weather, climate, and how it affects our planet and our lives. This far-ranging book should whet readers' appetites for learning more about meteorology and its surprisingly broad applications.” -- Publishers Weekly “If you have more than a passing interest in the weather, then Treading on Thin Air by Dr. Elizabeth Austin will be a great read. Austin has the ability of taking highly complex concepts and putting them into terms that aren’t just understandable, but instead, brings the reader into her world of passion for the weather.” -- Eureka Times-Standard “A world-renowned atmospheric physicist, revealing how the climate is an inescapable part of our daily lives, shows how the effects and impacts of weather on humans, society and the planet are changing with the times and what it means for our future.” -- Delaware Gazette “I found it fascinating, especially the discussing of flight KAL 801 in Guam, where she buried the contentions of the FAA about what was going on weather wise at Agana, when the flight was inbound.” -- Jerry Sterns, Sterns & Walker “I loved this book. As a customs and intelligence officer, the deductive versus inductive reasoning is what I found particularly fascinating.” -- Geoff Soper, Customs and Intelligence Officer, Christchurch, New Zealand “Terrific. Treading on Thin Air explains highly complicated weather patterns and tackles global warming. But what really caught my attention was how Dr. Austin coached women on how to navigate a career in science fields. A fascinating read that captivated my attention.” -- Jeff Tieferman, Consultant “Brilliant! Dr. Austin takes us on a journey around the world and covers so many topics in a fascinating and engaging way. From the implications of today’s weather and its changes, to aviation and how our atmosphere affects it, how meteorology plays into accidents and crime investigations, she covers it all. I am amazed, but not surprised, at her knowledge in so many scientific areas and her ability to covey them in ways that will be fascinating to anyone reading this book. Her stories are a 'must read.'” -- Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Navy fighter pilot and space shuttle commander