Know Your Clouds
Old Pond Publishing is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.
Project Team
Consultant Publisher: Helen Brocklehurst
Editor: Sue Viccars
Designer: Emily Kingston
Copyright © 2020 by Tim Harris and Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Print ISBN 978-1-913618-09-4
eIBSN 978-1-913618-10-0
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Fox Chapel Publishing 903 Square Street Mount Joy, PA 17552
Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd. 3 The Bridle Way, Selsey, Chichester West Sussex PO20 0RS, U.K.
Cover photo: Fair-weather cumulus on a summer afternoon
Photo on pages 2–3: Ominous yet benign, noctilucent clouds glow in the night sky over Lithuania
Contents
The nature and naming of clouds
17 Nebulosus and fibrous cirrostratus
Foreword
A massive cumulus congestus coloured by the evening light
Our ever-changing skyscapes are endlessly fascinating. Throughout history, clouds have inspired artists, poets, musicians, and photographers. In most parts of the world, at many times of the year, an array of clouds passes overhead. On calm days, they float gently by, while at other times gales sweep them across the sky at speed. Skyscapes can be calming, dramatic, dull, intriguing, or downright scary. Some have an ethereal beauty that is difficult to describe. Clouds can inform that the weather is likely to remain the same for the foreseeable future, or give clues that change is on its way—for better or for worse.
How you ever wondered how clouds form? Or why some types disappear, only to be replaced by others? Do you ever wish you could put a name to them? Whether your interest is simply in knowing their names, or if you’d like to be able to “read” the sky to forecast tomorrow’s weather, this book is for you. It describes the main cloud groups and some of the members that make