Winds : an Invisible Strength
Invisible but fundamental to life on the planet, wind has inspired many myths in human civilizations. A key player in oxygenating the oceans, it governs the movements of insect and bird populations, shapes the plant world, influences transportation, and is an inexhaustible source of energy. By turns devastating and beneficial, whether dry, violent, hot, cold, or humid, it lays down the law wherever it blows. There are thousands of them around the globe, each with its own characteristics. At the crossroads of geography, history, human adventure, and science, Grands Vents follows the path of five iconic winds—the Mistral of Provence, the Chinook of the Rockies, the transatlantic trade winds, the North African Sirocco, and the Indian monsoon—through the eyes of those who study them, await them, fear them, or even enjoy them.
Extraordinary Clouds
Objects of myth that inspire both fear and hope, clouds are as much cultural icons as they are subjects of scientific exploration. They shape ecosystems and ocean cycles, provide vital water, and have long been a source of human fascination and inspiration. Across four destinations and diverse ecosystems—from the Pacific coast of Chile to the cloud cap of Mount Fuji and the “tablecloth” of Africa’s Table Mountain—cloud hunters, meteorologists, scientists, enthusiasts, and indigenous communities help us decode these extraordinary giants. By supplying moisture to the environment, clouds sustain life and make it possible for unique animal and plant species to thrive, even in the driest regions, while creating some of the most spectacular natural scenes on Earth.