The Cloud Collector's Handbook

A lot of lovely pictures! Spectacular! Some even ominous and scary! And the little clouds in some of the pictures are so cute! This book is great for an artist, but unfortunately not for someone who is still in school. Some things could lead a student astray and cause him to learn some things wrong in preparation for an exam.

Here are some things that could use some improvement:

(1). The section on Stratocumulus opens with a photo of scattered tall Cumulus clouds (Cumulus congestus). In the caption under this photo, the author says, "When Cumulus clouds become so plentiful that they join together and cover the sky, they are known as Stratocumulus." Although this caption correctly describes a way in which Stratocumulus forms, the caption does not describe the photo. The photo simply shows the wrong cloud type for this section of the book.

(2). The section on Lenticularis opens with a photo of a smooth lenticular cloud just above (perhaps even touching) a ragged patch of low cloud. The sharp upper edge and the lack of a visible fibrous structure in the lenticular cloud suggest that it is a water-droplet cloud, not an ice-crystal cloud. Yet, in the caption, the author says, "Lenticularis species of high Cirrus cloud." If the intent was to show lenticularis at the level of high clouds, it would have been better to aim the camera more horizontally (closer to the horizon) so that the great height of the lenticularis cloud above the lower clouds would be more noticeable.

(3). In the table of "Cumulus Species" in the section on Cumulus, the author describes "Humilis" as "wider than it is tall." I don't think the ratio between width and vertical thickness is a good measure of the species. I've seen huge puffy clouds that were much wider than tall. They were dark and threatening and even produced rain or snow on occasion. Definitely not "humilis."

(4). The author describes Altostratus as the most "boring" cloud type. Actually, with a better choice of photo, this cloud type can be quite interesting and fascinating. The cloud often shows up in advance of inclement weather and has a typical foreboding and "watery" appearance. A good photo will show this ominous appearance -- some lower clouds near the dim sun would be a great help. (It's not easy to get a good photo. One must spend several days or weeks and exercise a lot of patience to get a good instance of this cloud type.)

(5). The section on Duplicatus opens with a picture of patchy clouds at sunset. The caption refers to these clouds as Altostratus duplicatus. However, there is nothing in the clouds to suggest a solid layer. Instead, the lower cloud is in patches, allowing the upper clouds and the sky to show through. A close examination of these patches shows that they are composed of small cloudlets. Toward the horizon we see lenticular-shaped clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis). At the higher level we see dappled clouds extending in bands toward the horizon (Altocumulus radiatus). The author probably meant to say Altocumulus instead of Altostratus in the caption, but the proofreader missed this.

(6). Inside the back cover, the author labels a puffy cloud as Stratocumulus. Nothing in this cloud suggests a layer or a collection of cloudlets. A more appropriate name for this puffy cloud is Cumulus. This picture needs a better example for Stratocumulus.

(7). The section on Velum opens with a picture of a large convective cloud capped by a large anvil-shaped appendage. This anvil has a fibrous appearance, suggesting that it is mainly an ice-crystal cloud. It is an incus, not a velum. There is a true velum in the foreground, but this comment is not about that foreground velum. Rather, this comment is about the large convective cloud. The caption calls this cloud a Cumulus congestus. Given the icy incus, this cloud is technically a Cumulonimbus.

(8). Re Section on pannus: Pannus can be either Stratus fractus or Cumulus fractus. In the second picture in the section, the upper parts of the pannus clouds are round and puffy -- these clouds are Cumulus fractus, not Stratus fractus.

Who would have thought that you could get so much enjoyment out of a little book about clouds? I got this as a gift and am completely enchanted. I thought I already knew a lot about clouds but this book has taught me so much! In particular, I knew the major groups, but there are dozens of cloud varieties that I am learning to recognize. Fun fun fun!

The author's prose style is slightly annoying, but that's a very minor flaw in this case. This book is informative, thorough enough for simpletons like me, & offers great photos & cross-references! Size, proportions, & material quality are all excellent. I cherished this book within 30 minutes of opening it.

A wonderful idea but the execution fails. The book is small (7 1/4" x 5 1/4"), the print is tiny and, for unfathomable reasons, so are most of the photos of clouds (1/3/4" x 1 1/2"). The book would have been better served by devoting one page to a full-sized photo of a cloud formation and the adjoining page to text in a font large enough to read without a magnifying glass. Disappointing.

my 3rd copy of this book, finally for myself. Have gotten one as a gift, but loved it so much I gave as a gift, keep buying a replacement, but then find someone else to give it to. Finally I've got one for myself. It's like a diary for cloud watchers. Let's you record details about when and where you saw certain formations. Like a bird-watcher's "life list" but for cloud-watchers.

I've always enjoyed looking at sunrises and sunsets, seeing storms roll in and watching the moon peek through the clouds. As of a few days ago, I can honestly say I enjoy them even more. What a great, little book! It's full of stunning images. It's concisely written. It's humorous in parts too. I've identified several of the more common clouds so far and I look forward to the day when I identify a fogbow, crepuscular ray and fallstreak hole and other less-common atmospheric phenomena.