Sunset Clouds
by Kathy Bassett
Title
Sunset Clouds
Artist
Kathy Bassett
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Digital Textures
Description
In meteorology, a cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body.These suspended particles are also known as aerosols and are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology.
Terrestrial cloud formation is the result of air in Earth's atmosphere becoming saturated due to either or both of two processes; cooling of the air and adding water vapor. With sufficient saturation, precipitation will fall to the surface; an exception is virga, which evaporates before reaching the surface.Clouds in the troposphere, the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface, have Latin names due to the universal adaptation of Luke Howard's nomenclature. It was introduced in December 1802 and became the basis of the modern classification system. Synoptic surface weather observations use code numbers to record and report any type of tropospheric cloud visible at scheduled observation times based on its height and physical appearance.The international cloud classification system is based on the fact that these aerosols in their most basic forms can show free-convective upward growth into low or vertical heaps of cumulus, appear in non-convective layered sheets at various altitudes as with low stratus and its higher variants, or take the form of high thin fibrous wisps of cirrus. In the case of low and vertical or multi-level clouds, prefixes are used whenever necessary to express variations or complexities in these basic forms. These include strato- for low cumulus layers with limited convection that show some stratus-like characteristics, cumulo- for complex highly-convective nimbus storm clouds, and nimbo- for thick stratus layers of some complexity that can produce moderate to heavy precipitation. For higher-based cloud types, the prefixes specify middle or high altitude ranges; alto- for middle, and cirro- for high. Cloud types prefixed by altitude range may be of simple non-convective stratiform structure or show slightly to moderately complex stratocumuliform structure due to limited convective activity. Free-convective clouds with potentially more complex forms are not prefixed by altitude range. Whether or not a cloud is low, middle, or high level depends on the altitude range of its base above Earth's surface. Layers or heaps with significant vertical extent can form in the low or middle altitude ranges depending on the moisture content of the air.While a majority of clouds form in Earth's troposphere, there are occasions when they can be observed in the stratosphere and mesosphere. These three main atmospheric layers are collectively known as the homosphere. Above this lies the thermosphere and exosphere, which together make up the heterosphere that marks the transition to outer space. Clouds have been observed on other planets and moons within the Solar System, but, due to their different temperature characteristics, they are composed of other substances such as methane, ammonia, and sulfuric acid.
Uploaded
August 27th, 2013
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