Cloud Studies

Clayden, Arthur William, 1855-1944Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 215K words
Chapters: 22

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Cloud Studies by Arthur William ClaydenAuthor: Clayden, Arthur William, 1855-1944,Language: English, Class: QC: Science: Physics, Release Date: Jul 16, 2017

Editor's review

Cloud Studies is an observational book about clouds, a public-domain popular science text related to physics and meteorology. The author, Clayden, uses detailed classification and observational records to guide readers to discover order and change in the everyday sky, linking cloud forms, causes, and weather signs. Its value lies not in profound theoretical deduction but in cultivating a habit of observing nature: look up at the clouds, identify their forms, record changes, and thereby understand atmospheric processes. The prose is plain and the structure clear, making it suitable as an auxiliary reader for introductions to meteorology or nature observation. For editors, the book's strength is that it combines scientific content with readability; it can satisfy curiosity through light reading and also serve as a starting point for systematic study. Reading is more effective when paired with field observation or comparison with cloud atlases.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers interested in meteorology and nature observation
Popular science enthusiasts who need basic knowledge of cloud forms
Parents and teachers who want to cultivate children's observation of nature
General readers who enjoy lightweight science books

Not a good fit for

Professional readers seeking systematic textbooks on modern meteorology
Readers expecting abundant charts, data, and the latest research findings
Readers who prefer literary narrative to expository writing

Reading tips

First read through the basic classification of clouds, then identify forms by comparing them with the real sky
Keep an observation notebook recording dates, cloud types, and weather changes
Read alongside cloud atlases or weather apps to reinforce memory of forms
Read in sections by chapter, focusing on one cloud type at a time and doing outdoor observation

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no meteorological background at all?

Yes. The book introduces clouds in a descriptive, observational way and does not rely on complex formulas, so the entry threshold is low. Readers need only maintain curiosity about the sky and combine reading with field observation to understand the main content. Those who want to go deeper into causes and physical mechanisms can supplement it with modern meteorology textbooks.

Is the meteorological knowledge in the book outdated?

As an early public-domain popular science text, its cloud classification and observation methods still have reference value, but some theoretical statements and terminology may be less precise than in modern meteorology. It is best treated as a guide for beginning observation; for specific data and mechanisms, check against contemporary meteorological sources.

How can reading be combined with actual observation?

Read the description of one cloud type first, then go outdoors to find the corresponding form and record the time, direction, and subsequent weather changes. After persisting for a period, return to the book's chapters and it will be easier to understand the connection between clouds and weather processes. Observing and keeping records with family members or students can also add interest.

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About the author

Clayden, Arthur William, 1855-1944 Author

Arthur William Clayden (1855–1944) was an author known for observing and recording clouds. Public information about his life is limited, and the library holds only one of his works, Cloud Studies. Judging from this surviving book, his writing centers on the forms, changes, and classification of clouds in the sky, turning everyday sky phenomena into carefully described subjects; his prose is both observational and explanatory. Such a subject requires long-term outdoor observation and a sensitivity to the shapes, layers, and shifting light of clouds, and the book reflects this plain, nature-oriented style of record. Although firm information about his education and career is lacking, Cloud Studies remains a concrete example of early writing on cloud observation and reminds readers to notice details in the sky that are easily overlooked.