Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: Seany on 17/05/2007 18:46:40

Title: Feather clouds! How are they formed??
Post by: Seany on 17/05/2007 18:46:40

Feather clouds are these! They are really fascinating and lovely!! But how are they formed?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.photo.net%2Fphoto%2F4946031-sm.jpg&hash=73046a398d126ef8817d7c3d314618af)

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fepod.usra.edu%2Farchive%2Fimages%2Fnewfeather.jpg&hash=4906a49a7ec370ac56373fba38e2dc0f)

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joycerupp.com%2Fimages%2Ffeathersky.jpg&hash=0aeeb2615d83c3d400d63029384f7968)

Title: Feather clouds! How are they formed??
Post by: JimBob on 18/05/2007 01:26:04

These are cirrus clouds.

I can remember the name because of 1st year college literature professor who had us read a translation of Homer's Odyssey. There is a line in the poem that reads "... horse-tail cirrus ..." I have never been able to forget this as it seemed such a perfect description of these clouds. Later I found out that they are formed from ice crystals as they are formed from the water crystallizing in the upper atmosphere - 20,000 feet or greater.

Thus endeth the lesson

(if you are a member of the Anglican Communion, you will understand.)

Title: Feather clouds! How are they formed??
Post by: paul.fr on 18/05/2007 10:08:33

Seany, i love clouds. I could spend hours, and often do, just looking at them. Their different shapes, sizes, textures, colours......I just love clouds, i am sad!

Try this link, http://www.theweathermakers.com/ . It is Tim Flannery's home page, he has quite a good book called the weather makers. It is about climate change, but even if that does not interest you it is stilla good book.

It may be in your school library, if not see if they can get a copy.

the book intro:

Quote

The Weather Makers
The History & Future Impact of Climate Change
by Tim Flannery
Most of us suspect that climate change is happening, but is it a terrible threat to our world or an exaggerated beat up? Or is it something in between - an issue that humanity must eventually face, but not yet?

In this groundbreaking and essential new book, Tim Flannery argues passionately for the urgent need to address - NOW - the implications of a global climate change that is damaging all life on earth and endangering our very survival.

This book is unimpeachable in its authority, deftly and accessibly written in its vision for what each of us can do to avoid catastrophe. It is a global call to arms, laying out plainly if not controversially what we know, what we think might happen, and what tools we have available to us to make a difference. The Weather Makers will change your life.

It is a difficult subject and hard for people to evaluate dispassionately because it entails deep political and industrial implications, and because it arises from the very core processes of our civilisation's success. Right now our fate is in our hands, for we are the weather makers, and we already possess the tools required to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Title: Re: Feather clouds! How are they formed??
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 04/05/2019 04:36:36

Which one is the feather cloud? The images didn't show up.