In atmospheric science, a boundary layer is the band of air nearest the ground. In the Pacific Northwest, the boundary layer teems with lichens, mosses, ferns, fungi, and diminutive plants. It s an alternate, overlooked universe whose denizens author Kem Luther calls the "stegnon, " the terrestrial equivalent of oceanic plankton.
In "Boundary Layer," Luther takes a voyage of discovery through the "stegnon, " exploring the life forms that thrive there and introducing readers to the scientists who study them. With a keen ear for conversation and an eye for salient detail, the author brings...