Scientists Classify First New Cloud Type In More Than 50 Years - High Heat = Strong Condensation

[hatrack]

Meteorologists believe they have discovered a new classification of cloud after the unique formation has been spotted in skies around the world.

Experts at the Royal Meteorological Society are now attempting to have the new cloud type, which has been named "Asperatus" after the Latin word for rough, officially added to the international nomenclature scheme used by forecasters to identify clouds. If successful, it will be the first variety of cloud to be classified since 1953.

The new type of cloud forms a dark, lumpy blanket across the sky and has been sighted in locations all over the world, including above the hills of the Scottish Highlands and above Snowdonia, Wales. "It is a bit like looking at the surface of a choppy sea from below," said Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, who first identified the asperatus cloud from photographs that were being sent in by members of the society.

EDIT

Professor Paul Hardaker, the Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said: "The process is a long and convoluted one to get through, but we believe there is a good case for this cloud to be added. "There would probably need to be quite a lot of heat around to produce the energy needed to generate such dramatic cloud formations. They are quite dark structures so there must be a lot of water vapour condensing in the cloud."

EDIT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/5411412/New-type-of-cloud-found.html

[phantom power]

1. Some example photos

[imdjh]

2. cool

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. Scary! Looks like something from a dream. nt

[Dead_Parrot]

14. Or a scream

[depakid]

15. That onemay depict the skies after Krakatoa

Forensic Astronomer Solves Fine Arts Puzzles: Astrophysicist Don Olson breaks down the barriers between science and art by analyzing literature and paintings from the past.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Celestial-Sleuth.html

[NickB79]

5. I'm not a religious man, but that is what I would imagine the skies of Armageddon would look like

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Looks like a Van Gogh painting to me. nt

[Beam Me Up]

11. Awesome! n/t

[Canuckistanian]

13. Freaky.

If I ever saw one of those, I'd be heading for the basement, right quick.

Are they not associated with major storm disturbances?

[Spinzonner]

4. Any Ice-9 in them ?

[StatGirl]

12. Or Oobleck?

I can't say that I like the idea of new, high-energy weather phenomena.

[kestrel91316]

6. "There be dragons......."

Like the edge of maps in long-ago times, we are passing into Terra Incognita.

I imagine Mother Nature has a lot of surprises in store for us in the coming decades.

[phantom power]

8. terra incognita -- the unknown earth

We're turning our home planet into a stranger.

[UnseenUndergrad]

17. Indeed...

"Precious Mother of Muad'Dib, RAIN FROM THE SKY OF DUNE! It is a death to us all!"

[mia]

9. Just found "The Cloud Appreciation Society".

http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/index.php?showimage=3633

[rateyes]

10. Slide show at this link:

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090605/NEWS/706059952/1006

[jberryhill]

16. Have they looked at these clouds from both sides now?

From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really dont know clouds at all

[truedelphi]

18. My Suggestion would be "Chemulus"

German citizenry has the right idea. We won't see what they are doing in Germany happening in USA because here no discussion is allowed.