So far in this series we have explored how you can find your way by the stars, steer by the swells and locate land by birds. Once you’ve followed the birds (or if it’s morning, headed the direction they came from) there is one final clue to guide you back to shore; clouds. These big balls of condensed water, sometimes turning to ice, come in all shapes and sizes and can be found at all altitudes in our atmosphere, from the sea’s surface all the way up to the tropopause.
Although the complexity of clouds can at times seem overwhelming, they break down into four simple characteristics; cumulus (fluffy), nimbus (rain), stratus (layer), cirrus (wispy). Combining these words gives the clouds name and indicates what to expect; cumulonimbus are fluffy rain
