DOI Heft:
No. 18 (September, 1894)
DOI Artikel:Bate, H. Francis: Clouds
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17190#0203
Clouds. By Francis Bate
their formation and dispersion over different parts regard to the characteristic aspects of the sky, at
of a country, over continents, and indeed over large different places, at different seasons of the year, at
portions of the globe ; by observing the relations different times of day, and under various condi-
of the different kinds of clouds to isobars, cyclones, tions of wind and weather, are not only of the
and anti-cyclones, meteorologists are assisted in greatest interest to us all, but, to the modern land-
their weather prognostications. By the appearance scape painter, are at once an urgent necessity and
of clouds we may know that more or less damp air a fascination.
The constant change in the appearance
of the heavens, influences, to an incal-
culable extent, the life of the world. It
is brought about by combinations of the
nine or ten different classes of cloud into
which have been arranged the countless
numbers of ever-changing vapour shapes,
which, illuminated by rays of moonshine
or sunshine, falling upon or through them
at ever-changing angles, through atmo-
spheres of ever-varying density, glow with
changeful lights and colours, which flush
and fade in hues and tints innumerable,
and swim in rarer air where fair form
melts in fairer formless light, that to and
from the deep blue zenith of most distant
space floods sky and earth. The change-
fulness of changeful skies—a power im-
measurable—leaves on the land and sea,
reflected, the fainter image of itself, to lie
on all the waters, and the fields of ripe
rich corn, and wind-swept meadow-lands
of polished grass.
The ten principal varieties of cloud are,
l i. Cirrus.
„. 7 f4- Strato-cirrus.
a. \ 2. Cirro-stratus. b. i ^
~- , Is. Cumulo-cirrus.
^3. Cirro-cumulus. J
/ 6. Strato-cumulus.
7. Cumulus.
c.< 8. Cumulo-nimbus.
9. Nimbus.
\io. Stratus.
There are, of course, cloud observers
" sir palimides taken to execution " by paton wilson who, recognising slight differences in
clouds of these various classes, would
is rising and falling under certain conditions of further extend the nomenclature. But it is
upper and lower wind-currents. The significance claimed that ninety per cent, of skies in every
of it must be judged by surroundings and ante- part of the world can be described with a suf-
cedents. ficient degree of accuracy by these ten words.
The foundation of all modern cloud knowledge Amongst the ten words will be noticed four
for meteorological purposes is based upon the simple words of which the other six are corn-
relation of cloud forms to isobaric lines. pounded. These, for practical purposes, may be
It is not, however, with a view to assist the taken to designate the four principal kinds of
Meteorological Office that the painter-artist will clouds:—(1) Cirrus is the wispy, feathery curl
regard the sky and the clouds. Weather prognos- cloud that marks the fathomless azure, sometimes
tics are to him of minor importance. But a know- so faintly as to be only just distinguishable,
edge of the elementary laws which govern the Always high, often composed of ice-particles, it
formation and dissipation of clouds, and a careful floats in an atmosphere so clear and rare, and free
their formation and dispersion over different parts regard to the characteristic aspects of the sky, at
of a country, over continents, and indeed over large different places, at different seasons of the year, at
portions of the globe ; by observing the relations different times of day, and under various condi-
of the different kinds of clouds to isobars, cyclones, tions of wind and weather, are not only of the
and anti-cyclones, meteorologists are assisted in greatest interest to us all, but, to the modern land-
their weather prognostications. By the appearance scape painter, are at once an urgent necessity and
of clouds we may know that more or less damp air a fascination.
The constant change in the appearance
of the heavens, influences, to an incal-
culable extent, the life of the world. It
is brought about by combinations of the
nine or ten different classes of cloud into
which have been arranged the countless
numbers of ever-changing vapour shapes,
which, illuminated by rays of moonshine
or sunshine, falling upon or through them
at ever-changing angles, through atmo-
spheres of ever-varying density, glow with
changeful lights and colours, which flush
and fade in hues and tints innumerable,
and swim in rarer air where fair form
melts in fairer formless light, that to and
from the deep blue zenith of most distant
space floods sky and earth. The change-
fulness of changeful skies—a power im-
measurable—leaves on the land and sea,
reflected, the fainter image of itself, to lie
on all the waters, and the fields of ripe
rich corn, and wind-swept meadow-lands
of polished grass.
The ten principal varieties of cloud are,
l i. Cirrus.
„. 7 f4- Strato-cirrus.
a. \ 2. Cirro-stratus. b. i ^
~- , Is. Cumulo-cirrus.
^3. Cirro-cumulus. J
/ 6. Strato-cumulus.
7. Cumulus.
c.< 8. Cumulo-nimbus.
9. Nimbus.
\io. Stratus.
There are, of course, cloud observers
" sir palimides taken to execution " by paton wilson who, recognising slight differences in
clouds of these various classes, would
is rising and falling under certain conditions of further extend the nomenclature. But it is
upper and lower wind-currents. The significance claimed that ninety per cent, of skies in every
of it must be judged by surroundings and ante- part of the world can be described with a suf-
cedents. ficient degree of accuracy by these ten words.
The foundation of all modern cloud knowledge Amongst the ten words will be noticed four
for meteorological purposes is based upon the simple words of which the other six are corn-
relation of cloud forms to isobaric lines. pounded. These, for practical purposes, may be
It is not, however, with a view to assist the taken to designate the four principal kinds of
Meteorological Office that the painter-artist will clouds:—(1) Cirrus is the wispy, feathery curl
regard the sky and the clouds. Weather prognos- cloud that marks the fathomless azure, sometimes
tics are to him of minor importance. But a know- so faintly as to be only just distinguishable,
edge of the elementary laws which govern the Always high, often composed of ice-particles, it
formation and dissipation of clouds, and a careful floats in an atmosphere so clear and rare, and free