The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-26
Correspondence Of p. c. Advertiser
Clouds and their Nomenclature.

Nh. EDITOR As the columns of your entertain
ing journal are ever open to communications tending
to confer useful information, and knowing also that
it IS much circulated among the seafarng class, l
take the liberty Of presenting the following remarks
on clouds, for the benefit of all interested therein.
They are partly the result of close and watchful OBJ
servation on my own part.
Among the various subjects which have Of late
been pointed out for the special notice of seamen by
the British Board of Trade, and other authorities,
stands that upon which these lines treat, viz, Clouds.
1t is strange, that while the attention and study of
the most intelligent of s~eafaring men have been con-
stantly directed to the observation of the practical
and theoretical utility of the celestial bodies, using
them confidently and skilfully for their safe guidance
during their progress over the ocean, carefully noting
each change in their diurnal aud annual course, and
learning to rely upon them as upon a faithful friend;
It's strange, l repeat, that those momentous and
eloquent indices to elementary atmospheric changes,
clouds, should have failed to engross their share Of
attention and notice. 1t may appear 10 Soc that
their Importance is invested with a degree Of in Inferior
ity, rendering them secondary in their significance
to those brilliant orbs which deck the canopy Of
space. Noticed TO n certain degree, they probably
may be but to that degree Of reliable d.scrimiua-
ton which enables the observer to mark their mystic
~ious and sudden changes. and the effect and result
attendant, upon which invariably rest the blessings
Of good health to those on shore-aud TO the seaman,
the probabilities Of violent storm or favorable
weather.
Men who have made the present theme the study
Of a lifetime. have succeeded in dividing the general
mass, termeI clouds, into eight distinct and separate
phenomena. arranged under the following nomen-
clature Cirrus, Giro Stratus, Giro Cumulus, Gu
mulus, Stratus, Cumulo-Stratus, Nimbus, Scud.
These several notifications may be divided into two
distinct and great divisions, viz. ascending and
descending clouds the first having their origin in
the lower strata Of the atmosphere. They are the
stratus and the cumulus, to which the stratus gives
place. These clouds always ascend in the heavens,
and are invariably harbiugers to fine weather.
The remaining phenomena. termed Cirrus. Giro
Stratus, Crro-Cumu,us, and Scud. have an opposite
direction, and always descend in the atmosphere-
and this progressive motion downward Is a reliable
index TO rain, wind, &c. Those who are in the habit
Of carefully noting the barometer Will find that.
during this progression, the mercurial column viii
be affected and commence to fall
It has no doubt been often noticed that different
strata Of clouds often move in different directions,
the lowest following the direction OF he wind blowing
al the time near the surface of the earth the upper
strata allowing the currents in the upper regions Of
the atmosphere. which may be in opposite or oblique
directions. This is Of very frequent occurrence,
within the tropics.
1t may now be appropriate TO give, as welIas I can,
some description of the different phenomena under
their several distinctions. First. then, I Will remark
On that termed Cirrus. This cloud is seen in all
at all seasons Of the year. It occupies the
elevated regions Of the atmosphere, and is sup