Book cover of Clouds Wind Air by Phil J Coates showing the view, from a glider cockpit, of hills and a cloudy sky

Clouds Wind Air

A compact weather reference for those who look up and want to understand. 

Originally written as a cloud identification guide, this book has grown into a broader exploration of atmospheric structure, cloud formation, and air movement — with particular relevance to glider pilots and weather-aware travellers. 

It includes: 

  • All major cloud types, species, and accessory forms 
  • Layers of the atmosphere and global circulation patterns 
  • Local winds, wave lift, and thermals — explained clearly and factually 
  • Precipitation types and optical effects 
  • A technical appendix on synoptic symbols used in weather charts 

Written in a precise, economical style, this is not a textbook — it’s a working companion for anyone who studies the sky with interest or flies through it for joy.