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Who's Who in Weather: Luke Howard

© Amy Marquis

He didn't have formal meteorology training. He never received a degree. He was a businessman, and he named the clouds above.

Luke Howard, a man who never formally studied the atmosphere came up with the classification system meteorologists use today.

It all started back in 1783, when an eleven year old boy noticed the spectacular show above. That year the “Great Fogg,” a lingering cloud of dust caused by ash from volcanic eruptions in Iceland and Japan, hung over the earth

Cloud Types

Cumulus (Latin for “heap”) – This type of cloud can be likened to fluffy cottonballs. Stratus (Latin for “layer”) – A gray sheet from horizon to horizon. Cirrus (Latin for “curl”) – These high, wispy clouds are common on pretty days. Nimbus (Latin for “rain”) – This classification is always used in tandem with either cumulus or stratus. The two prefixes that describe the height of the clouds are Alto, or "middle," and Cirro, which means "high." No prefix translates to low clouds.

from May through August. Howard was transfixed by sunset after stunning sunset, whose many colors were accentuated by the dust in the air. In mid-August of that same year, a meteor flashed across the sky, amidst the sparkle of the aurora borealis.

From then on, Howard was hooked.

Before Howard developed his system, meteorologists hadn’t even bothered to categorize clouds, believing they were fleeting and ever-changing. Scientists simply used color to portray them, and likened them to animals to describe their shape.

In 1800, inspired by taxonomist Carl von Linne, or Linneaus, who came up with the systematic classification scheme for all life forms, Howard presented his approach before the Linnean Society of London. For his accomplishments, in 1821, the Royal Society elected the amateur meteorologist a Fellow.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

Building materials commonly used in cities, such as concrete and asphalt, trap the heat of the day, resulting in higher temperatures – especially at night.

His "Essay on the Modification of Clouds” had an enduring influence on the science of meteorology. However, cloud naming wasn’t Howard's only achievement.

Truly ahead of his time, Howard is thought to be the first to recognize that cities have an effect on the climate. He noticed that cities were often warmer than the countryside. Today, we know that phenomenon as the urban heat island effect.

Howard's aptitude for understanding the climate set him apart. In spite of his informal knowledge of the subject, he managed to make contributions to the science that still hold true. And that is why he's remembered as a significant figure and the man who named the clouds.