PICTURES: New Cloud Type Discovered?

nationalgeographic. ^ | June 3, 2009-- | Christine Dell'Amore

[JoeProBono]

These choppy clouds over Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in an undated picture could be examples of the first new type of cloud to be recognized since 1951. Or so hopes Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society.

The British cloud enthusiast said he began getting photos of "dramatic" and "weird" clouds (including the above) in 2005 that he didn't know how to define.

A few months ago he began preparing to propose the odd formations as a new cloud variety to the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which classifies cloud types.

Pretor-Pinney jokingly calls it the "Jacques Cousteau cloud," after its resemblance to a roiling ocean surface seen from below. But the cloud fan has proposed a "formal," Latin name: Undulus asperatusroughly, "a very turbulent, violent, chaotic form of undulation," explained Pretor-Pinney, author of the new Cloud Collector's Handbook.

Margaret LeMone, a cloud expert with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, said that she has taken photos of asperatus clouds intermittently over the past 30 years.

It's likely that the cloud will turn out to be a new variety, LeMone said.

"Having a group of people enthusiastic about clouds can only help the field of meteorology," she added.

Asked how has such a striking cloud type could go unrecognized, Pretor-Pinney cites its rarityand the proliferation and portability of digital cameras. "Technology has allowed us to have this new perspective on the sky."

[JoeProBono]

[exist]

I am going to be pissed off if they discover a whole new type of clouds I know we’ve spent billions of dollars on crap like this why are they just finding out now?

[Dallas59]

Looks like what my stomach feels like after hearing any speeches from Obuma.

[dfwgator]

I really don’t know clouds at all.

[outhousepatrol]

Cloud Appreciation Society? Well, at least more benign than the Barack Obama appreciation society.

[B-Chan]

I’ve looked at them from both sides now.

[DieHard the Hunter]

WOW!!! just... WOW.

[Retired Greyhound]

No doubt the result of global warming (barf)

[sidetracked]

Hee Hee. I got it. Still know that song by heart after what, 18 years or so.
And yes, it does look like a picture of “bows and flows of angel hair... and feathered canyons everywhere.”

[BykrBayb]

You wanna see some new types of clouds? Visit New Jersey.

[JoeProBono]

Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons evrywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way

[magslinger]

Heyyy Youu, get off of my cloud!

[Gator113]

Those look cool.

[razorback-bert]

The land of cloudless days
The land of an unclouded sky
They tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
They tell me of an unclouded day

[Vicki]

WOW, that second picture is especially cool!

[Gator113]

Those look cool.

[Dallas59]

My grandmother always called Judy Collins a hippy....That brought back that memory...

[GonzoGOP]

This is the point where the alien space ship breaks out of the cloud and destroys Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC. God I miss those aliens.

[razorback-bert]

oOPS, mean to add

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQzUL20-1rQ&feature=related

[JoeProBono]

lenticular clouds

[JoeProBono]

lenticular clouds

[Excellence]

We had some freaky clouds here a couple of days ago. Imagine rumpled satin sheets flipped upside-down. In my 53 years, I’ve never seen anything like it.

[MHGinTN]

The ones over the Alpine Inn don’t look real! They look like something from an ‘Alien’ movie.

[Talisker]

So basically a new type of cloud started to appear in 1951. Clouds are patterns of condensation. Condensation occurs at a cooling saturation level. SO, a new pattern of cooling saturation levels started to appear in 1951, after thousands of years of humans viewing clouds.

Sounds completely natural to me...

(and to you too, if you know what's good for you).

[MistrX]

Who is the keymaster?

[JoeProBono]

[GRRRRR]

Dude...I’m freakin’ out...dang Judy Collins caused me to miss a great hit on a hottie many, many years ago...I thought those brane cells were long gong...

[Big Giant Head]

I wandered lonely as a cloud.

[mark3681]

I usually grab the family and run to the basement when we see clouds like that!

[A Texan]

I have seen clouds like picture #3 in Texas all my life.

[dadgum]

The second photo is something I have never seen before. The others are pretty common here in Oregon.

[GonzoGOP]

That is a seriously cool cloud formation. What mountain is that?

[JoeProBono]

[MHGinTN]

Looks a lot like Mt Saint Helens after a heavy snow and a few years since the eruption.

[LadyPilgrim]

Interesting.....Thanks.

[Lokibob]

That is what I was going to say, it looks like Altocumulus lenticular clouds to me. See them all the time, although not as stable as in your pictures.

....Bob (37 years in meteorology)

[Chronically aghast in Florida]

So does this mean we are going to get a new cloud czar? Maybe next week we can get a rainbow czar too.

[Vicki]

Yes, I am very familiar with these types of clouds with Mt. Rainier in view most of the time.

[Reeses]

That looks like Satan’s Laugh.

[patriot08]

Some of my cloud pics. Just got a digital camera. Here are some of my clouds. Having sooo much fun with it. .

[Kirkwood]

[Chronically aghast in Florida]

Very awesome pics!

[puppypusher]

New clouds Hey!They look like the same old clouds that I see everyday.But then what the hell.I’m No scientist.

[SIDENET]

I am the Gatekeeper.

[WVNight]

Nice Mammatus pic.

[Procyon]

1951? Is it just a coincidence that Karl Rove first appeared on Earth December 25, 1950? Or was he transported to Earth along with his “weather machine?”

[Kirkwood]

It would blow my mind if I walked out the door some morning and saw this.

[Talisker]

1951? Is it just a coincidence that Karl Rove first appeared on Earth December 25, 1950? Or was he transported to Earth along with his “weather machine?”

It would have to be transport to Earth, because even though he is an evil genius, manipulating clouds would be too advanced for a 1 yr. old.

[Talisker]

It would blow my mind if I walked out the door some morning and saw this.

I actually walked out my door and saw that overhead in New Mexico one afternoon. I'd like to just call it creepy, but it was way more than that - it was definitely scary weird.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

My grandmother always called Judy Collins a hippy....That brought back that memory...

Joni Mitchell wrote the song (along with many, many others) and in my humble opinion, does a better job singing it, but yes, Judy Collins did cover it as well.

Regards,
GtG