Educational
FORECAST SOL: Disturbed red MAG: Normal green ION: Normal green
Space Weather

Reference Books for Solar Terrestrial Science

The following is a list of general reference publications which may be of use to those seeking information about this very interesting subject. Many others books on the subject can be found in most libraries.

The Sun - General Information

  • Secrets of the Sun, Ronald Giovanelli, published by Cambridge University Press, 1984, ISBN 0-521-25521 X.

    Good summary of all aspects of the Sun and its features.

  • Beginner's Guide to the Sun, Peter Taylor and Nancy Hendrickson, Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995, ISBN 0-913135-23-2.

    A complete guide to the Sun and its influence. Directed towards the interested novice reader who may, or may not, want to observe the Sun personally.

  • Guide to the Sun, Kenneth Phillips, Cambridge University Press, 1992, ISBN 0-521-39483-X.

    An excellent book for readers who are somewhat versed in solar phenomena and their terrestrial effects, and have a little maths and physics background.

  • The Sun our Star, Robert Noyes, published by Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-85435, 1982.

    Very easy reading and good illustrations.

  • The Face of the Sun, H. Newton, published by Pelican.

    An old book with good historical introduction.

  • Astrophysics of the Sun, Harold Zirin, published by Cambridge University Press, 1988, ISBN 0-521-316073.

    A lot to offer the advanced student or sophisticated amateur.

Observing the Sun

  • Sundials, R. Newton Mayall and Margaret Mayall, Sky Publications, ISBM 0-933346-71-9, 1938.

    A classic book with everthing you could want to know about the subject; reprinted in 1994.

  • Observing the Sun, Peter Taylor, Cambridge University Press, 1991, ISBN 0-521-40110-0.

    Suited for beginning observers of sunspots and other white-light phenomena, or those interested in monitoring atmospheric anomalies caused by solar flares.

  • Solar Radiophysics: Studies of Emission from the Sun at Metre Wavelengths, Don McLean and Norman Labrum, published by Cambridge University Press, 1985, ISBN 0-521-25409-4.

    An excellent textbook on radio emission from the Sun at metre wavelengths.

The Solar Terrestrial Environment

  • The Sun and Solar-Related Terrestrial Disturbances, Richard Thompson, published by Bureau of Meteorology - Space Weather Services, Sydney, Australia.

    A comprehensive guide to the Sun and its effects on the solar terrestrial environment.

  • Glossary of Solar Terrestrial Terms, published by Space Environment Center, Boulder, USA.

    A nice summary of the meaning of terms used in solar terrestrial forecasting.

  • Handbook of Geophysics and the Space Environment, Adolph Jursa (editor), published by US Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, 1985.

    A big book and hard to obtain a copy; but a magnificant reference publication on all aspects of the subject.

  • Sun, Earth and Sky, Kenneth Lang, published by Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3-540-58778-0, 1995.

    A very accessible , well illustrated introduction to Geospace.

  • Solar Terrestrial Physics, Syun-ichi Akasofu and Sydney Chapman, published by Oxford University Press, 1972.

    An advanced textbook but one of the best.

The Geomagnetic Field and Related Topics

  • Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields, Wallace Campbell, published by Cambridge University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-521-57193-6.

    An excellent summary of geomagnetism written by one of the leading experts in the field.

The Ionosphere, HF Radio Propagation and Their Prediction

  • SWS User Training Course, published by Bureau of Meteorology - Space Weather Services, Sydney Australia.

    A guide to the Sun and solar terrestrial environment with emphasis of its effects on HF communications.

  • The New Shortwave Propagation Handbook, George Jacobs, Theodore Cohen and Robert Rose, published by CQ Communications, 1995, ISBN 0-943016-11-8.

    A guide to all aspects of HF radio propagation.

  • Sun, Earth and Radio - An introduction to the ionosphere and magnetosphere, J. Ratcliffe, published by World University Library, ISBN 303 17895 7, 1970.

    Might be hard to obtain but a good introduction to the ionosphere and magnetosphere specific to HF propagation.

  • Ionospheric Radio, Ken Davies, published as IEE Electromagnetic Waves Series No, 31, Peter Peregrinus Publication, London 1990.

    An intermediate level book; one of the classics on the subject.

  • Radio Amateurs Guide to the Ionosphere, Leo McNamara, published by Krieger Publishing Co., Florida, 1994.

    An excellent guide to the subject.

  • Radiowave Propagation, Hall and Barclay (Editors), IEE Electromagnetic Waves Series No, 30, Peter Peregrinus Publication, London 1986.

    Covers radio propagation across the spectrum from longwave to satellite frequencies (intermediate level).

  • HF communication: science and technology, J. Goodman, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York 1992.

    Not only the Sun-Earth environment but the ionosphere, HF propagation and technologies for managing it (intermediate level).

Aurorae

  • The Aurora Watchers Handbook, Neil Davis, published by University of Alaska Press, 1992, ISBN 0-912006-59-5.

    An excellent book on an interesting subject.

  • The Northern Light, Asgeir Brekke and Alv Engeland, published by Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3-540-12429-2, 1983.

    Coffee table historical survey of how we came to appreciate the aurora. Worth reading.

Solar and Astronomical Calculations

  • Astronomical Algorithms, Jan Meeus, published by Willmann-Bell, 1991, ISBN 0-943396-35-2.

    The definitive guide to astronomical calculations using a small computer. Includes methods of calculating co-ordinates of the Sun.

This information is compiled through the efforts of Richard Thompson, David Cole, John Kennewell, Phil Wilkinson, and Peter Taylor.

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