More About Clouds
When you have learnt to identify the basic clouds, there are more to spot. Each type of cloud can have a variety of different variations. There are also some interesting weather features which are related to clouds. Remember to keep looking up to see if there is anything unusual in the sky. It is well worth having a digital camera with you at all times so that you can photograph anything unusual for later identification.
When you have finished reading about this you may want to return the Clouds page or Collecting Data.
Crepuscular RayThis spectacular sight occurs when the sun shines through a gap in a dark cloud. The rays are also know as the 'fingers of God'. Take plenty of photographs so that you can choose the best as they are not easy to photograph. |
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FogFog is in fact a cloud which is close to the ground. As you walk through fog you get wet, because there are lots of water droplets in the air. |
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MountainsInteresting cloud formations can be seen near mountains. This one is on Hout Bay in South Africa. The clouds look as if they are growing out of the mountain. Keep a special eye out for clouds if you are near hills and mountains. |
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Fallstreak HoleThis hole in the cloud is caused by frozen ice crystals falling downwards. It can be a very spectacular sight. |
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SundogA sundog or parhelion is a bright light caused by the sun's light shining through the clouds in a special way. The actual sun is behind the building. The bright light is caused by a process is called refraction, which is a sort of bending of the light. This is a difficult thing to photograph as you should never point your camera at the sun. |
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ContrailThese lines in the air are caused by passing aeroplanes. Often there are many of them in the sky. Look for places where the contrail stops and starts again due to the different conditions in the sky. The contrails can also spread out and make beautiful patterns in the sky. |
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DistrailA distrail is where an aeroplane's passing through a cloud has created a gap. It is the opposite to a contrail. If you see one, take a picture of it. |
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Variety in the SkyThere is not always the same sort of cloud in all of the sky. Sometimes, especially at the seaside, you can see a different sort of weather approaching. In the video clip, when you look to the right you see pleasant sunny weather. When you look to the left you see rain falling from dark clouds. If you see this check the wind direction to see what weather is coming towards you. |
Please Note
Please be conscious of any safety issues regarding these activities. When looking at the sky avoid looking directly at the sun, especially with optical instruments such as binoculars and cameras. Filters are generally not powerful enough to guarantee safe viewing of the sun.