Weather Changes Detectable through Monitoring Clouds

There are no colors being beamed onto the Earth through or from the atmosphere. The atmosphere itself doesn’t have any color at all. What we see in the sky when we look up in to the clear “blue” sky, or are awed and amazed by beautiful sunrises and sunsets are light waves reflected off of dust particles and air molecules. Not terribly romantic, but if you should still be able to appreciate the beauty. The size of the wavelengths determines the colors that we see. The blue sky comes from the shorter wavelength of the violet and blue waves. These shorter waves are scattered more efficiently and effectively than the still present but much less visible red and orange colors. The amount of water vapor in the sky determines the depth of the color. Less water vapor creates less of a veil over the sky and therefore the blue light shines clearly through, making it a brighter blue color.

Clouds get their white color because the water that creates clouds scatter the color away from the cloud area. The white light of the sun is shown through in the clouds in degrees based on the density of the water vapor in the clouds. The darkest grey or black clouds are the ones that have the highest concentration of water vapor and are blocking out the sun’s white light.

When the sun is rising or setting, it is periodically closer to the Earth. This close proximity allows the orange and red light waves a chance to reflect in the sky as well. Floating molecules from pollution, dust or even ash can enhance and deepen the colors reflected in the sun.

Instruments for monitoring the weather are readily available to anyone interested in doing so. Many weather enthusiasts and amateur forecasters are capable of monitoring, recording and posting their information for public consumption on the Internet. Weather monitoring, watching what happens in the sky, becoming familiar with the different types of clouds, and recognizing the patterns of behavior of the different cloud will help anyone who would like to be able to forecast probable weather changes and coming events.

There are three levels of clouds, low level, mid level and high level. Middle and high level clouds are usually signs of approaching frontal systems. When these frontal systems are then followed by low level clouds, precipitation typically occurs.

Cumulus clouds that accompany good weather typically are not associated with any type of rain or snow. If cumulus clouds appear suddenly, with an additional change in temperature, and the clouds begin moving across the sky rapidly however, a thunderstorm may be fast approaching.

Wind is another good predictor of storm activity. Sudden shifts in wind direction are also strong indicators of approaching storms. Many times winds will blow in the opposite direction that a storm is blowing. Paying attention to barometric pressure and wind direction will give knowledgeable weather observers more clues to approaching weather.

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