WeatherSTEM Fusion: Sky Camera
Like the weather, solar eclipses are a spectacular and visual experience. Before there were instruments to measure and observe the weather, people turned their eyes to the skies and paid attention to the clouds. Determining the weather that is moving into an area and understanding the current state of the atmosphere can all be done by observing the clouds.
While clouds come in many shapes and sizes, there are four main categories of clouds:
From the Latin word meaning 'curl of hair,' these wispy clouds are composed mainly of ice crystals and are observed at high altitudes. They usually appear ahead of storm systems.
Meaning 'layer' in Latin, these clouds are typically broad and widespread, covering a large area.
These clouds appear as white fluffy, cotton balls that appear denser than other clouds. They have flat bases, and the top grows as rising air continues to condense.
The Latin word for rain is nimbus, and the majority of precipitation that falls comes from a nimbo-form cloud.