Science Atlas

How We Know What We Know
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Concept

Cloud Classification

Earth Sciences

The system that names clouds by form and height rather than by casual description, built from Latin roots, cirrus for a lock of hair, cumulus for a heap, stratus for a layer, and nimbus for a rain cloud, plus compounds and modifiers for the forms between them. Luke Howard proposed it in a paper read to the Askesian Society in 1802. The World Meteorological Organization's International Cloud Atlas still uses Howard's genus names as its base vocabulary, extended but not replaced by nearly two centuries of observation.

Facts
Proposed YearSourced to the subject's own account
1802 1
Proposed BySourced to the subject's own account
Luke Howard 1
Connections

Belongs To

Proposed By

Source Luke Howard (Wikipedia)

Studied In

Source Cloud (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Cloud (Wikipedia)
WikipediaStudied In: Meteorology, Lead
Quote, Studied In: Meteorology, Lead
In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, ice crystals, or other particles, suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.