Clouds

Guys, I have a new obsession. It’s not clouds. Just kidding! It’s clouds.

This all started a week or so ago when I looked up at the sky and thought, man, I’d really like to know what that’s called. So over the next few days, I researched clouds on Wikipedia — went through the various types and sub-types, viewed photos upon photos of incredible clouds, and learned an amazing amount of information in such a short time. I don’t think I’ve ever retained so much information from Wikipedia ever before.

So, this all led up to my goal for October — to be able to classify any sky of clouds. Obviously, I realize I will come across some I can’t classify (like the one above — any cloud experts want to help me with this one?), because they are just so odd. Some formations are caused by such strange air movement and moisture that they can’t even hope to be classified. But I have no doubt that by the end of this month I’ll have the difference between cumulus humilis and cumulus mediocris down.

Why, you might ask, would I ever need to know the names of all of the cloud formations? Well, why shouldn’t I know them? Why should I ever stop fueling my brain with the most extraneous of information? Plus, wouldn’t it be so cool if I could just be sitting around with some friends, look up at the sky, and say, “Hey guys, what do you think of that cirrus radiatus?” And they’d be like, “Ooh Steven how are you so awesome and suave?”

In addition, there’s so much to learn from clouds, primarily the forecast. What kind of person wouldn’t want the satisfaction gained from having a prediction come true, especially one that affects everyone around you? After predicting precipitation angled about 15 degrees from the NW within the next hour, once it happens you would feel like you own the sky. The world. THE FUTURE. Plus, clouds just look plain cool, and this realization was what sparked my interest in the first place. The above image, for example, depicts one of the most awesome cloud formations I’ve seen, and it’s nice knowing that you can look at that and know it’s a lenticular cloud.

So, all of this really cumulates (ho ho!) into a card I’ve made for myself on the go. It has, in space-sensitive 8 pt font, a list of all of the primary cloud types and some of the subtypes I found either common or interesting. I included a list of simple forecasts — what each cloud formation indicates — as well, to help the amateur meteorologist in me. I want to encourage the lot of you, dear readers, to look up every once in a while, and ruminate beneath a vast ocean of stratus or something.

And if you’d like a copy of my cloud classification card to help you along the way, you could acquire a PDF! It fits in most wallets!