h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just to prove the point,

Have a look at the Met. Office's website http://www.metoffice.com/bookshelf/clouds/classification.html

See there are no nimbus cloud types - just prefixes/suffixes

Cheers

Tony C

Hi, Tony C!

I can see that you've put a lot of work into this over the last week or so.

I'd still like a bit more clarification of the point I raised before:-

You say in the cirrus section:
"it has often been suggested that they can serve as the indicator that a storm is approaching: see the section later on forecasting for the lay-man for more details."

but in the later section you only say:
"If any of the cirrus-style clouds start to join up or thicken, or start to drop in height then it would be a good guess that it may rain within two days."

To me there's a huge difference between predicting a storm and predicting rain within two days, so I still don't understand your point.


Azara

But a brief historical mention that the nomenclature *started* with these four categories (cumulus, cirrus, stratus and nimbus, with 'nimbus' used to signify rain-bearing clouds) is I believe appropriate to this entry... or at least appropriate to an entry covering the history of why we use the names for cloud types that we do.

Pimms

Pimms,

I understand what you are saying, but is it really relevant to this particular attempt at a guide entry? I was only trying to cover the facts, as they stand today. To cover the history of the naming conventions, a biography of the man that created the convention etc I think would detract from the whole point of the article in the first place. If I need to create a supportive article that summarises the history of clouds and their naming etc. then I will endeavour to so this, but I would really rather have it seperate.

What does wveryone else think?

Everyone else,
I will address any inconsistencies today and hopefully augment the forecasting points with a couple more that I've found.

Tony C

Fair comment I've had to beat off well-meaning suggestions with my entries too.

No worries

Pimms Lettuce

This is looking really good now, so much so that a Scout has recommended it for the Edited Guide. I'm just checking in to make sure you're finished here (I can see there's been some fascinating discussions here already!).

If you can let me know either way, that'd be great.

Jimster

Hi,

And can I just say thanks to everyone that has contributed to the discussions over the last few weeks. I must say, you are all a credit to the whole philosophy of h2g2 and it is a joy to work with you all.

As far as I am aware, I am now finished with this article and am happy for it to go into editorial review.

Tony C

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

for Tony C!

Azara

Well Done Tony

Pimms
(unless someone wants to beat me to it [I may take a while to start] I may try and write a [very] simple history of cloud terminology to link to this )

Congrats!