From weather observations to atmospheric and climate sciences in Switzerland

"For anyone wishing to gain a detailed insight into the history, development and current state of meteorology in Switzerland, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly."
(David Bowker, Weather 72/5, Mai 2017, S. 126)
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"The book offers a snapshot of today’s meteorology and climatology, as a matter of course a bit inclined to a Swiss point of view. So it is not surprising that one of the largest chapters (33 pages) is dedicated to foehn studies. But apart from this, it is clearly demonstrated that Swiss meteorology is much more than Alpine meteorology; in fact it is a highly modern and internationally well connected science. The reviewer also appreciates that research on atmospheric composition and chemistry is seen as an integral part of atmospheric sciences. Scientists and laymen interested in the history of natural sciences find a lot of details on the development of meteorology and climate sciences in Central Europe. In covering both the development and the present state of climate sciences, the book offers a nice treatise on the  emergence  of  modern  climate  sciences  out  of  the traditional empirical climatology 100 to 150 years ago. The book is well edited and many cross-links between  different  chapters  are  made.  Besides  a  few  historic   black  and  white  drawings  and  photographs,  the  entire  book  is  well  illustrated  in  colour.  References  are  given  at  the  end  of  each  chapter  allowing  for  immersing  oneself  even  deeper  in  the  given  subjects.  The  only  features  missing  are  indices  to  persons  and  key  words mentioned in the book. The book can be highly recommended  to  all  working  or  interested  in  atmospheric sciences and who want to pause for a moment enjoying  a  look  back  on  the  development  of  modern  climate  sciences  which  have  turned  out  in  recent  decades  to  be  so  crucial  for  the  future  of  our  planet."
(Stefan Emeis, Die Erde, Vol. 147/3, 2016, S. 227f.)

"This book addresses a broad audience ranging from interested laymen wanting to take a first-hand glimpse on the development of meteorological science in Switzerland to graduate students or professionals intent on getting a concise overview over a well-defined research area thanks to an extensive, albeit eclectic, bibliographic list at the end of each chapter. This richly illustrated book describes the development of a process starting with original weather observations at the second half of the 19th century which ultimately leads the reader to contemporary science-based weather and climate science of predictive power that is well anchored in today’s methods and procedures of atmospheric sciences. ... This book fills a critical gap by highlighting the many natural science disciplines contributing to today’s practice of meteorology.
Both editors have succeeded in putting together a lively, fascinating yet very readable and concise account on the historic development as well as the current state-of-the-art of meteorology in Switzerland. It is probably safe to say that this book will probably not collect dust on its bookshelf owing to the risk that it will frequently be used as a fact checker by students and professionals alike."
(Michel J. Rossi, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland)
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