Luke Howard, On the Modification of Clouds

Robert Clark (The Literary Encyclopedia)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Domains

Meteorology & Climatology

Dates

First circulation or publication Dec 1802

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Resources

Save to Bookshelf

In this short paper of 32 pages, Luke Howard (q.v.) presented his typology of clouds, which was to become the global standard used by meteorologists throughout the world. Howard’s typology was a notable advance on the ideas recently presented by Carl Linnaeus (1707-78), and the earlier scheme advanced by René Descartes (1596-1650).

Howard’s typology offers succinct definitions of three types of cloud, and four mixed types of cloud:

1. Cirrus

1. Cirrus

Parallel, flexuous, or diverging fibres, extensible in any or all directions

2. Cumulus

2. Cumulus

Convex or conical heaps, increasing upward from a horizontal base

…

Please log in to consult the article in its entirety. If you are a member (student of staff) of a subscribing institution (see List), you should be able to access the LE on campus directly (without the need to log in), and off-campus either via the institutional log in we offer, or via your institution's remote access facilities, or by creating a personal user account with your institutional email address. If you are not a member of a subscribing institution, you will need to purchase a personal subscription. For more information on how to subscribe as an individual user, please see under Individual Subcriptions.

413 words

Citation: Clark, Robert. "On the Modification of Clouds". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 June 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35414, accessed 23 November 2024.]

Luke Howard, On the Modification of Clouds

Domains

Dates

Places

Resources

Save this article

Leave Feedback