Clouds: Nature and Culture

Clouds have been objects of delight and fascination throughout human history; their fleeting magnificence and endless variety have inspired scientists and daydreamers alike. Clouds and the ever-changing patterns they create have long symbolized the restlessness and unprecitability of nature. life without clouds would not be physically possible - alongside their rain-bearing function, they act as a finely tuned planetary thermostat - but it would also leave us mentally and spiritually bereft, deprived of the inspiring, life-affirming thought-bubbles that drift continuously overhead: "the ultimate art gallery above," as Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote. The author explores the notable presence of clouds in literature and the arts while outlining their growing scientific and technological significance in the context of climate change and cloud computing today. The book covers the history and science of clouds, including the controversial practice of cloud modification. All the major cloud types are discussed, including clouds on other planets, as well as the increasing number of man-made clouds that fill our changeable skies. Comprehensive yet compact, cogent and beautifully illustrated, this is the ultimate guide to clouds.