Complemented by striking photographs and line drawings, a witty and eclectic study of clouds captures the character of these natural phenomena while discussing the science behind the different types of clouds, what they mean in terms of climate and weather, their history, and artistic and cultural fascination with their ephemeral beauty. Reprint. Now in paperback: the runaway British bestseller that has cloudspotters everywhere looking up. Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Veteran journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies. Illustrated with striking photographs (including a new section in full-color) and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, The Cloudspotter's Guide will have enthusiasts, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine. Introduction 9(5) Cloud chart 14(3) Classification table 17(4) The Low Clouds Cumulus 21(24) Cumulonimbus 45(26) Stratus 71(20) Stratocumulus 91(22) The Middle Clouds Altocumulus 113(22) Altostratus 135(16) Nimbostratus 151(20) The High Clouds Cirrus 171(24) Cirrocumulus 195(16) Cirrostratus 211(28) Not Forgetting... The Other Clouds 239(14) Contrails 253(30) The Morning Glory 283(24) Notes 307(3) Acknowledgments 310(2) Index 312