Boy, Were We Wrong About the Weather!

Weather prediction is -- and has always been -- a notoriously difficult task for scientists and nonscientists alike. Kudlinski’s exploration of the evolution of weather, atmosphere, and climate sciences interweaves accounts of historical beliefs about meteorology with current understandings of important topics such as the water cycle, storms, and longterm climate change. In the telling, she emphasizes the important scientific practices of learning from one’s mistakes (“Boy, were they wrong!”) and drawing on many different sources of evidence to try to develop knowledge. Although most of the narrative focuses on correcting old assumptions, a few examples of being “right” from the start -- including old sailors’ tales about “red skies at night” and early predictions of global warming -- help to show that some scientific ideas stand the test of time. Cartoonlike digital and pencil illustrations feature children and adults experiencing weather in modern and historical contexts. danielle j. ford

This exploration of the evolution of weather, atmosphere, and climate sciences interweaves accounts of historical beliefs with current understandings. In the telling, Kudlinski emphasizes the important scientific practices of learning from mistakes and drawing on many different sources of evidence to develop knowledge. Cartoonlike digital and pencil illustrations feature children and adults experiencing weather in modern and historical contexts. Timeline, websites.