Cloud Protocols

1
Cloud Protocols

• You can measure
• Cloud Type
• Contrail Type
• Cloud Cover
• Contrail Cover

2
Why do we Measure Clouds (and Contrails)?

• Help scientists calculate the rate of heat
  exchange between the atmosphere and the soil
• Use as verification for remotely sensed
  temperature readings
• Help tie new measurements of clouds by automated
  sensors to long-term historical data records of
  human observations
• Help to identify cloud type more accurately than
  is possible by remote sensing
• Contribute to determination of how cloud
  climatology may be changing (a major issue in
  assessing climate change)
• Contribute to improved interpretation of
  satellite observations of Earths radiative
  balance
• Provide one of the only sources of ground-based
  observations of contrails, which are challenging
  to detect by remote sensing due to their small
  width.

3
Cloud Observations Site

• Open area with wide view of the sky in all
  directions

4
Cloud Type

• Cumulus
• heaps or puffy
• think about cauliflower or cotton balls
• Stratus
• layered or spread out
• think about Turkey Divan Strata
• Cirrus
• wispy/curly
• think of locks of hair

5
Cloud Heights

• High
• above 6,000 meters
• Cirrus / Cirro-
• Middle
• 2,000 to 6,000 meters
• Alto-
• Low
• 0 to 2,000 meters

6
Cloud Type

• High
• Cirrus
• delicate filaments
• hair-like appearance
• halos are irregular
• Cirrostratus
• halos often indicate presence
• Cirrocumulus
• coronas or pillars occur

7
Cloud Types

• Middle
• Altocumulus
• form in extensive sheets or lines
• sun dogs
• luminous pillars
• Altostratus
• uniform gray sheet
• sun may be dimly visible
• no halo phenomena

8
Cloud Types

• Low
• Stratus
• Cumulus
• Stratocumulus
• Low with precip
• Nimbostratus
• Cumulonimbus

9
The Cloud Chart Is Your Friend!!
10
Cloud Triangle
11
Contrail Types

• 3 types
• Short-lived
• Persistent Non-Spreading
• Persistent Spreading
• Simply record the number of each type that you
  observe!

12
Cloud Cover

• Great tool for teaching fractions and Percentages
  
• Categories
• No Clouds 0
• Clear 0 to 10
• Isolated 10 to 25
• Scattered 25 to 50
• Broken 50 to 90
• Overcast gt90

13
Contrail Cover

• 5 Categories to choose from
• No Contrails (0)
• 0-10
• 10-25
• 25-50
• gt50

14
If sky is Obscured (Not Visible)

• Sky may also be Obscured due to the following
  conditions
• Fog
• Smoke
• Aerosols (haze)
• Volcanic ash
• Dust
• Sand
• Spray (ie sea spray)
• Heavy rain
• Blowing snow
• If more than ¼ of the sky is obscured, report
  that to GLOBE and do not report cloud and
  contrail measurements.