Images of clouds that look like animals. The most unusual types of clouds
How often clouds can tell you where weather conditions are at when you don't have an official forecast. In this case, some clouds can tell about the coming weather. Usually, the order in which the clouds change in a certain sequence is better for forecasting than simply determining the type of clouds. It is not always easy to determine the type of clouds. There are almost always several types of them in the sky at the same time, and they change their shape over time.
Clouds- These are tiny drops of water or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere and visible in the sky from the surface of the earth. Clouds are everywhere, in every part of our planet. However, there are also rare species in nature that few people are lucky enough to see.
Let's take a closer look the rarest types of clouds.
Thunder collar- rare long clouds that usually form before advancing cold fronts. Air currents in a thunderstorm collar can only circulate around its horizontal axis.
The reason for the formation of a thunderstorm collar is the process of condensation of warm, moist air rising and cooling below the dew point, which occurs along the entire length of an elongated air front.
Lenticular (lenticular) clouds formed on the crests of air waves or between two layers of air. An amazing feature of these clouds is that they do not move and remain in the sky as if glued, no matter how strong the wind is.
Clouds usually hang in the lee of mountain ranges, behind ridges and individual peaks at an altitude of 2 to 15 kilometers.
The appearance of lenticular clouds indicates that the air has a fairly high moisture content. This is usually due to the approach of an atmospheric front.
Noctilucent (night glowing) clouds- the highest cloud formations appearing at altitudes of 75-95 km. The year 1885 is considered to be the time when this type of cloud was discovered.
Noctilucent clouds can be observed only in the summer months: in the Northern Hemisphere in June-July, in the Southern Hemisphere at the end of December and in January. In addition, these clouds are so thin that they are not visible during the day, even against a clear sky.
Fallstreak effect in cirrocumulus clouds- a large circular gap, which, due to the rarity of such a phenomenon, is often mistaken for a UFO.
Such “holes” in the clouds form when the temperature of the water in them is below zero, but it has not yet frozen. When some of the water in a cloud begins to freeze, it sometimes settles to the ground, forming large "holes."
Viper clouds(Mammatus clouds) have an unusual cellular shape. They are rare and mainly in tropical latitudes, because they are associated with the formation of tropical cyclones.
Cloud cells are usually about 0.5 km in size and are most often clearly visible, although they may have blurred edges.
The clouds are grey-blue in color, like the main cloud, but due to the rays of the Sun they may appear golden or reddish.
Wavy clouds.
Iridescence in the cloud- a phenomenon similar to those observed in oil films on puddles. It is most often found in altocumulus, cirrocumulus and lenticular clouds.
When sunlight hits small water droplets or ice crystals in a cloud that are different sizes, the light refracts to produce a range of colors called iridescence.
Protruding clouds Shelf clouds are usually seen before a thunderstorm, although they can also precede a front of relatively cold air.
Protruding clouds are similar to, but different from, a thunderstorm collar because they are always associated with a large cloud system hidden above.
Fire clouds or pyrocumulus(Pyrocumulus cloud, fire cloud) are formed during intense heating of air at the surface of the earth.
This type of cloud can occur during forest fires, volcanic eruptions, or atomic explosions.
Ray clouds(actinoform) were discovered in the 1960s. Their name comes from the Greek word for "ray" and refers to their radial structure.
Their sizes can reach up to 300 kilometers in diameter, so they can only be seen from a satellite. Currently, scientists cannot give an exact explanation of how this rare type of cloud is formed.
Polar stratospheric(pearlescent) clouds form at altitudes from 15 to 25 km in cold regions of the stratosphere (temperatures below -80C).
In the entire history of atmospheric physics, polar stratospheric clouds have been observed only about 100 times. The thing is that in the stratosphere the concentration of water vapor is several thousand times less than in the lower part of the atmosphere (troposphere).
cloud cap- a small, rapidly changing, horizontal, high-stratus cloud that usually lies above cumulonimbus and cumulonimbus clouds. May form above an ash or fire cloud during a volcanic eruption.
Morning Glory(Morning Glory) - long horizontal clouds, similar to rotating pipes: up to 1000 km in length, from 1 to 2 km in height. They are located at an altitude of only 100 to 200 meters above the ground and can move at a speed of 60 km/h
The formation of Morning Glory is often accompanied by a sudden heavy wind. In spring, over the city of Bourketown in Queensland (Australia) it can be observed more or less constantly and predictably.
Rough waves(Undulatus asperatus) were identified as a separate type of cloud only in 2009.
These are the most ominous and devilish clouds in appearance. They look like a stormy sea, a dark, bizarrely “crumpled” surface.
Some even link the appearance of Undulatus asperatus clouds to the supposed apocalyptic events of 2012.
1. Mother of pearl clouds. They are located at an altitude of about 15-25 km in the stratosphere and troposphere. Their colors are unusual - iridescent, iridescent. Such clouds can be found in winter in the Far North: in Alaska, in the Scandinavian countries, in Northern Canada. They differ from other clouds in that they stand out brightly in the sunset sky after sunset.
2. "Udder-shaped" clouds. These clouds have a bizarre shape that resembles an udder. At a low altitude of the Sun above the horizon, they can acquire a gray-blue, gray-pink, golden and even reddish color. The appearance of these clouds always foreshadows thunderstorms, and the clouds themselves can be located several kilometers from the source of the thunderstorm.
3. Jellyfish clouds, so named for their resemblance to the inhabitants of the sea, are formed at the junction of the humid air of the Gulf Stream and the dry air of the atmosphere. The middle of the cloud becomes like the body of a jellyfish, and the “tentacles” of the cloud form evaporated raindrops.
4. Noctilucent (mesospheric) clouds. Extremely rare formations. Noctilucent clouds are a very thin, almost transparent layer of clouds at an altitude of 82-102 km, noticeable due to their weak glow against the background of the night sky. Noctilucent clouds are thought to be composed of ice crystals and volcanic and meteoric dust particles that scatter sunlight. Their shine in the night sky is explained by the fact that they reflect the light of the Sun, which is invisible on the “night” side of the Earth. You can see them only at dusk, when they are illuminated by the sun from over the horizon. During the day they are not visible.
5. Mushroom clouds- clouds of smoke in the shape of a mushroom, formed as a result of the combination of tiny particles of water and earth, or as a result of a powerful explosion. They are most often associated with an atomic explosion, but any relatively powerful explosion can produce the same effect.
6. Kelvin-Helmholtz pinnate curls.
These thin spiral curls are the rarest clouds found in nature. The duration of their “life” is equal to one or two minutes, which is why seeing them with your own eyes is a great success.
7. Lenticular clouds have such a strange shape that an outside observer will be reminded of a UFO. Their peculiarity is that even in the strongest winds they remain motionless. These clouds are excellent predictors of an approaching weather front, storm or storm. Residents of mountainous regions are especially familiar with these “predictors.”
8. Squally clouds. These are low, horizontal clouds, as if twisted into tubes. They are harbingers of strong gusts of wind, thunderstorms, and cold fronts. From a distance, they are very reminiscent of a tornado column, only not vertical, but horizontal.
9. "Concave" clouds. These low arching clouds can be seen right before a thunderstorm. Unlike similar squall clouds, a thunderstorm collar is not autonomous.
10. “Striped” stratocumulus clouds.
These low and patchy clouds do not portend rain, but rather indicate good weather. Their peculiarity is that they are located in the sky in the form of regular rows or waves.
Aeromancy is fortune telling by the sky, clouds, comets, “falling stars” and other observable phenomena.
Aeromancy was widespread in the ancient world.
You will find some facts here
In a simplified version, fortune telling looks like this:
...The clouds that are on the right side of the fortuneteller show good luck, and on the left side - what to beware of....
You can guess while waiting for the bus, walking in the forest or sitting at home. To tell fortunes, you need to ask a question, close your eyes and turn to any side. (Some fortune tellers recommend jumping around 360 degrees). Then, opening your eyes, look at the sky - the clouds that appear in your eyes will predict the future.
The clouds that are on the right side of the fortuneteller show good luck, and on the left side they show what to watch out for. If clouds on the right side move towards the fortuneteller, this means that good luck awaits ahead, but if on the left, expect failure. If the clouds move by, events will pass by.
White clouds predict a favorable resolution of the issue or a hasty end to the matter.
Black clouds foretell a bad answer to a question. If suddenly a dark cloud suddenly brightens, this indicates that you need to expect help, good luck in difficulties, and it is just around the corner.
Clouds illuminated by the sun are a good sign, but if the cloud has a grayish or bluish tint, then this does not foretell a very big victory in a matter that is important to you.
Greenish clouds - fortunately in love.
Blue clouds foretell success in career, money or other material matters.
Purple clouds promise news from trusted friends and good advice.
Pink clouds indicate that someone or something new will come into your life.
Noctilucent clouds foretell a new opportunity or chance that will change life for the better.
Golden clouds are a sign that dreams will come true, intentions will be realized.
Red - warns of the danger of anger or illness due to excessive emotionality.
Orange clouds foretell that someone will disappear from your life and you will be left alone for some period of time.
Yellow clouds mean that in the near future you will be under the control of anger, envy and jealousy.
Fortune telling on clouds is best used by people who are unable to get out of a dead end situation. When the problem gets to you, you need to look at the sky and interpret the shape of the cloud - the smoother and rounder the cloud, the better the prediction it makes.
Often the shape of the cloud is interpreted by associating its appearance with some animal or other popular symbol: a cat is a lie, a dog is a friend, a cross is suffering.
Here's an example: one girl got a job. It was unbearable for her there because of the scandalous boss. During one of the “showdowns,” the girl looked out the window. The clouds in the sky resembled sharks, which corresponded to her situation - the boss simply ate her, although the girl was a good professional. Then the shark cloud turned into the sun. The sun in all predictions is a good sign. Indeed, a month later the boss unexpectedly quit, and the girl took her place.
A little history
In the summer of 1608, during the Time of Troubles, on the way to Moscow, the advisor-astrologer to Tsar Vasily Shuisky stopped to rest. He lay down on the grass, raised his eyes to the sky and saw that the cloud had turned into a red lion, with a gray serpent creeping up behind it. The serpent tried to strangle the lion, and a fight began between them.
The astrologer realized that the lion is sort of like Tsar Shuisky, and the serpent is the sworn enemy and pretender to the royal throne - False Dmitry II.
There were no winners among the cloud animals - the lion and the serpent intertwined into a single thundercloud and fell into pieces. The excited astrologer hurried to the king, saying that he had a revelation and from it it follows that the king would not retain power. Shuisky only waved his hand, but indeed, he was soon overthrown, tonsured a monk, exiled to Poland, where he died. The pretender to the royal throne, False Dmitry II, also died tragically.
And for a long time the astrologer told everyone how a sign appeared to him under the arches of the crystal sky.
The meaning of the image that the cloud can take
Apple- vitality, energy and the beginning of new adventures.
Rainbow- new opportunities.
Child- the birth of a new plan, idea or the appearance of a baby.
Bat- hard work, a lot of effort without results.
Bell- “for whom the bell tolls”?
Bird- freedom and travel.
Boat- trip on water.
Cat- independence, non-standard solution.
How often can clouds tell you what stage of development a weather condition is in when you don't have an official forecast. In this case, some clouds can tell about the coming weather. Usually, the order in which the clouds change in a certain sequence is better for forecasting than simply determining the type of clouds. It is not always easy to determine the type of clouds. There are almost always several types of them in the sky at the same time, and they change their shape over time.
Clouds are characterized by their height and shape. There are high clouds. Mid-level and low clouds. Within each altitude characteristic, round, massive clouds are distinguished - cumulus(Cumulus), light, smoky or striped – feathery(Cirrus) and monotonous layers of clouds – layered(Stratus). From a practical point of view, it is often useful to classify clouds according to the principle - either they lie in layers, which is the result of relative stability of the air, or they appear as individual, rounded shapes, representing vertical movement and instability of air masses. It is valuable, for example for mountain weather forecasting, to establish the characteristics of the air mass based on the nature of the clouds that we observe. To recognize clouds, it is also important to have cloud waves in them and to know the difference between what high clouds can tell and what low clouds can tell. In addition, clouds are characterized by the state of the water in them - either water droplets (in low clouds), or ice crystals (in high clouds), or their mixture with water (mainly in mid-level clouds). This is important for squall formations where lightning, rain, snow, etc. can be expected.
There are 12 main types of clouds. Their definition, significance, identification and differentiation is necessary for practical application in weather forecasting:
"High"– means located above altitudes of 5 - 6 km. This is the zone of "jet streams", or as we say, winds above. These winds are sometimes called "storm paths." Their property is high speed - more than 50 knots, and a constant direction - western. It is these air currents above that bring all the weather changes in the mid-latitudes.
Since air temperature decreases with height (6 degrees Celsius per 1 km), high clouds are more important to characterize by temperature. Water vapor freezes at this altitude, so all clouds at this level are formed from ice crystals. Unlike low clouds consisting of water droplets. All high clouds are cirrus type clouds - “tails”, stratified, irregularly shaped fragments or thin translucent, cumulus. The word "cirrus" in cloud names applies only to high clouds, while "cumulus" or "stratus" can be applied to clouds of any height level.
"Low" the clouds are located below an altitude of 2 km. It is not easy to estimate the height of clouds at sea, whereas on land you can compare it with, say, the known height of the top of a nearby mountain. "Fair weather cumulus clouds" are usually located at the top of this level, i.e. from 1200 to 2000 meters from the ground. When you see these well-formed, relatively small, soft-shaped white clouds in the sky, they can serve as a hint to you in determining the height: all clouds at this and lower altitudes are low clouds, and above them are medium and high ones. Low clouds sometimes lie on the ground. These may include stratus clouds and fog. Cloud bases can form at the dew point because, by definition, this point is the temperature at which invisible water vapor condenses into visible clouds. Take the air temperature at the surface minus the dew point, divide it by 4 and multiply by 300 meters. The result obtained will be the altitude at which the air temperature is equal to the dew point and clouds form there. On dry days, cumulus clouds are located higher than on wet days. The direction of movement of low cumulus clouds is almost the same as that of the surface wind. This direction may be slightly different to the right, due to the fact that the higher wind does not experience friction with the ground. When facing the wind, you will see low cumulus clouds running from a direction of about 30 degrees to the right. Above water, this deviation is less - about 15 degrees, because the friction of air on water is less.
Mid-level clouds are always located between high and low clouds. Their names use the prefix "alto", which in cloud terminology identifies these mid-level clouds. Although they are called, for example, “altostratus,” they are mid-level stratus clouds, as opposed to “cirostratus” (high clouds) and simply “stratus” (low clouds).
But there are types of clouds that are quite rare natural phenomena. They have very unusual shapes, colors and little understood features. What kind of weather can such clouds bring?
1. They are located at an altitude of about 15 - 25 km in the stratosphere and troposphere. Their colors are unusual - iridescent, iridescent. Such clouds can be found in winter in the Far North: in Alaska, in the Scandinavian countries, in Northern Canada. They differ from other clouds in that they stand out brightly in the sunset sky after sunset.
2. "Udder" clouds (Tubular). These clouds have a bizarre shape that resembles an udder. At a low altitude of the Sun above the horizon, they can acquire a gray-blue, gray-pink, golden and even reddish color. The appearance of these clouds always foreshadows thunderstorms, and the clouds themselves can be located several kilometers from the source of the thunderstorm.
3. Altocumulus Castelanus clouds Jellyfish clouds, so named for their resemblance to sea inhabitants, are formed at the junction of the humid air of the Gulf Stream and the dry air of the atmosphere. The middle of the cloud becomes like the body of a jellyfish, and the “tentacles” of the cloud form evaporated raindrops.
4. . Extremely rare formations. Noctilucent clouds are a very thin, almost transparent layer of clouds at an altitude of 82-102 km, noticeable due to their weak glow against the background of the night sky. Noctilucent clouds are thought to be composed of ice crystals and volcanic and meteoric dust particles that scatter sunlight. Their shine in the night sky is explained by the fact that they reflect the light of the Sun, which is invisible on the “night” side of the Earth. You can see them only at dusk, when they are illuminated by the sun from over the horizon. During the day they are not visible.
5. Mushroom clouds - clouds of smoke in the shape of a mushroom, formed as a result of the combination of tiny particles of water and earth, or as a result of a powerful explosion. They are most often associated with an atomic explosion, but any relatively powerful explosion can produce the same effect.
These thin spiral curls are the rarest clouds found in nature. The duration of their “life” is equal to one or two minutes, which is why seeing them with your own eyes is a great success.
7. “Lenticular” clouds () have such a strange shape that an outside observer will be reminded of a UFO. Their peculiarity is that even in the strongest winds they remain motionless. These clouds are excellent predictors of an approaching weather front, storm or storm. Residents of mountainous regions are especially familiar with these “predictors.” These clouds, known as altocumulus clouds, have a constant shape that forms extremely high up and usually align at regular angles to the direction of the wind.
Lenticular clouds form on the crests of air waves or between two layers of air. A characteristic feature of these clouds is that they do not move, no matter how strong the wind is. A continuous process occurs in them - the air rises above the condensation level, water vapor condenses, on the downward path water droplets evaporate, and the cloud ends. That is why lenticular clouds do not change their position in space, but stand in the sky as if glued. The appearance of lenticular clouds indicates that there are strong horizontal air currents in the atmosphere, forming waves over mountain obstacles, and that the air has a fairly high moisture content. This is usually due to the approach of an atmospheric front or to the energetic transport of air from distant areas
Cloud over Ayu-Dag in Crimea
These are low, horizontal clouds, as if twisted into tubes. They are harbingers of strong gusts of wind, thunderstorms, and cold fronts. From a distance, they are very reminiscent of a tornado column, only not vertical, but horizontal.
These low and patchy clouds do not portend rain, but rather indicate good weather. Their peculiarity is that they are located in the sky in the form of regular rows or waves.
A low, horizontal, tube-shaped, squall collar cloud associated with a thunderstorm front, or sometimes a cold front. They may also be a sign of possible microburst activity.
12. Clouds "Morning Glory".
These are the only clouds that have a proper name. “Morning Glory” is like a rolling cloud up to 1000 km long, 1-2 km high, moving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. These clouds appear mainly off the coast of Australia, in places with high humidity and high atmospheric pressure. The sun heats the front of the cloud and an upward movement of air occurs in it, which spins the cloud. Imagine a powerful wave that has a single crest and moves without changing speed or shape - this is what this cloud looks like.
Ecology
If your knowledge of clouds is limited to “white” and “fluffy” ones, it’s time to get acquainted with the full diversity of this amazing natural phenomenon.
Nature has created many types of clouds different shapes, sizes and colors.
However, some are so rare that perhaps the only chance to see them is to get to know them in this article.
Beautiful clouds
Shaft clouds
Shaft or tube clouds are associated with a thunderstorm or cold front. They are usually low-mounted and shaped like pipes or rolls.
Mother of pearl clouds
These clouds form at high altitudes up to 30 km. Cirrus clouds can be observed in polar regions near the poles, where they take on an iridescent color.
Viper clouds
Viper-shaped clouds ( Mammatus) are rare clouds in the form of cells that form after a thunderstorm. Contrary to popular belief, such clouds do not herald an impending hurricane, despite their ominous appearance.
Sky and clouds (photo)
radiant clouds
These clouds are difficult to see with the naked eye and are best observed from space. Satellite images show a leaf- or wheel-like structure standing out against the sky.
Shelf clouds
When you look at shelf clouds from Earth, they appear low and wedge-shaped. These clouds appear during severe thunderstorms and are usually attached to a parent cloud that is located directly above them.
cloud jellyfish
Cloud Altocumulus castellanus or a jellyfish cloud stand out for their extraordinary appearance and are formed when moist air gets “stuck” between two layers of dry air.
Cloud "punched hole"
These huge circular breaks form when the temperature of the water in the clouds is below freezing, but the water is not yet frozen. They are often mistaken for UFOs.
Clouds in the mountains
Cloud-hat
Cap clouds are high-floating clouds that sit above the top of a larger cloud. An example would be a cap cloud over the Sarychev volcano in the Kuril Islands, which formed over volcanic ash during an eruption.
wavy clouds
These clouds are typically formed by air waves that pass over mountain ranges.
Fire clouds
Pyrocumulative or fire clouds are cumulus clouds that are caused by fire or volcanic activity.
Rare clouds
Clouds Undulatus Asperatus
These scary-looking clouds still remain a mystery to scientists. In 2009 clouds Undulatus Asperatus proposed to be classified as a separate type of cloud. If this happens, it will be the first cloud type added since 1951.
Morning Glory
This rare phenomenon is difficult to observe due to the unpredictable nature of the clouds. Moreover, the only place where Morning Glory clouds occur is in northern Australia.
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds
While both shelf and bank clouds fall into this category, several lesser-known clouds also fall into this category.
"Hairy" cumulonimbus clouds
This type of umbrella Cumulonimbus capillatus includes any towering vertical clouds with a cirrus top.
Clouds with an anvil
These "anvil" cumulonimbus clouds are characterized by a flat, anvil-shaped top. The cloud can develop into a supercell and lead to severe weather such as a tornado.
Condensation trail
Although not a natural cloud formation, these vapor trails are technically classified as cirrus clouds Cirrus Aviaticus.
Cirrus clouds
Cirrus clouds Kelvin-Helmholtz
These clouds, named after the German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz and British physicist Lord Kelvin, often indicate atmospheric instability and turbulence for aircraft. These amazing horizontal spirals disappear very quickly, making them difficult to observe.
Cirrus clouds Cirrus spissatus
These are the tallest of the cirrus clouds and form from thin wisps of ice crystals.
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrostratus clouds Cirrostratus nebulosus can only be seen when they are illuminated by sufficient sunlight. They usually lead to the formation of rainbow-colored circles around the Sun called halos.
Although these clouds are most often associated with a nuclear explosion, any large explosion can result in the formation of a mushroom cloud, including volcanic eruptions and meteorite impacts.
noctilucent clouds
It is perhaps one of the least understood types of clouds in the atmosphere, and it is also the tallest.
Noctilucent clouds, as a rule, are located at an altitude of more than 80 km, located almost at the edge of space, and they can only be seen closer to the Earth's poles.
However, to observe them, the conditions must coincide properly. In this case, the Sun must be located below the horizon in order to create the desired lighting angle.