Reflections on the puddle of life

I was thinking about that phrase the other day 'sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees' and I realised sometimes I want to see the trees. Sometimes I like to look at things up close, it reminds me how special and complex and intense the world can be. Perhaps the phrase should be 'sometimes you can't see the trees for the wood'?

Anyway, what got me thinking about this was the fog. Yesterday it was really foggy when I woke up and I'm regretting, now, not taking any photos. But at the time I was too caught up in the fog; I'd forgotten how fog comes out in autumn.

Fog always reminds me how much I love clouds, because if you're walking through fog you are walking through a cloud. A Stratus cloud, to be precise. Stratus consist of grey layers, or patches, of cloud, often featureless and low lying. When Stratus clouds form at ground level they create mist or fog, the distinction being how far you can see through it. If you can see less than a kilometre it is fog, if between 1 and 2 kilometres then it's mist.

I have, for the past year or so, made a habit of familiarising myself with the clouds: getting intimate with them, if you like. I'm still learning. Sometimes I'm too busy seeing faces, fishes or aeroplanes to care if the cloud is a Cumulus or Stratocumulus or Cumulonimbus waiting to strike, but that doesn't really matter. And when I see those shards of light slicing from the clouds down to the ground like a torch of the gods, I often forget they're called crepuscular rays. Well, it doesn't really roll off the tongue does it? Regardless of what they're called, the clouds are amazing.

Still, I thought I'd share some interesting facts about some of the clouds, and let you see some of my not so brilliant capturing of them. Those clouds I haven't yet photographed I'll save for another day.

There are currently 10 classifications of clouds as follows:

Cumulus, Stratos, Stratocumulus, Cumulonimbus, Altocumulus, Cirrus, Altostratus, Nimbostratus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus.

Though the clouds appreciation society are trying to have a new classification of cloud accepted by the meterological community, called the Asperatus. You can read about it here, and if you like have a look at some of the amazing cloud pictures. Asperatus

In the meantime, here's some more information about some of our damp friends.

Cumulus

The Cumulus cloud is the one kids (and adults) draw in pictures. It's the cloud you see represented on the weather report when it's going to be a cloudy day. Poor Cumulus, so often misrepresented. Because the Cumulus cloud doesn't cause those horrid grey days with their endless hours of rain (that'd be Nimbostratus). No, the Cumulus is a fair weather cloud, appearing on sunny days to make the sky more interesting to look at when you're lay on your back in the garden sipping on a cool drink.

Here's an example of some Cumulus clouds:

Innocent, aren't they? Well, often they are, living for only 10 minutes they're here and gone in a puff of wind. Mostly. But the Cumulus that grows out of control can turn into its nastier relative, the Cumulonimbus, otherwise known as the thundercloud.

Stratocumulus

Similar in form to the Cumulus, but a bit more of it, is the Stratocumulus. Stratocumulus are low lying clouds, often in large clumps or forming a continuous layer, with well defined, bumpy bases. In my very handy Cloudspotter's guide they refer to Stratocumulus clouds as appearing as though someone couldn't find the off switch on a candyfloss machine. Sometimes Stratocumulus bring rain, but if they do it will be only a light shower. Here's some really nicely textured Stratocumulus:

Altocumulus

The Altocumulus are more difficult to pinpoint because their classification is based on the height at which they form. Despite the use of the term 'alto' (meaning 'high'), Altocumulus are middle layer clouds. Altocumulus look like this:

mid-layer layers or patches of cloudlets in the shape of rounded clumps, rolls or almonds/lenses. The side facing away from the sun will be shaded. Altocumulus are easily mixed up with Cirrocumulus which are similar in form but higher. In order to check whether you're looking at Altocumulus or Cirrocumulus you need to do the finger test (not as gross as it sounds) which involves holding three fingers up with an extended arm at an angle of roughly 30 degrees. If the size of the individual elements of the layers is smaller than one finger then it is probably Cirrocumulus. If larger it's Altocumulus. Perhaps not surprisingly, Altocumulus don't cause rain.

Unfortunately that's all the clouds I've managed to capture so far, but hopefully I'll be able to bring you some more soon. In the meantime, why not try and see if you can classify the different types of clouds in the picture below, or if you can see an image or impression why not share? (I think I see pikachu!)