Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-12-03
CLOUD BAROMETERS.
HOW TO FOReTELL THE WEATHER
BY LOOKING OVERHEAD.
Cirrus IL the Highest of All Clouds
and Cumulus Is Much the bfssess
of Any Form of C1oud-The Wettest
Cloud Of All IL Nfmbus.


and CumuIus Is Much the Biggest
of Any Form of CIoud-The Wettest
Cloud of All IL Nimbus.
cit Is clouding up. 1t must be going
10 rain" This is a remark you may
hear constantly, and few people seem
10 realize that the one thing Is By no
means consequence OF the otner.
True, all clouds are composed OF water
yapor. but 1t is absurd to imagine tnat
because clouds become visible In the
sky they are therefore going 10 ois-
charge their contents upon our heads.
On the contrary, some CLOUDS are
actually prophets of fine weather. Olr-
rus for instance, or curl cloud, as II Is
often picturesquely called, is, as rule,
a fine weather harbinger. CIRRUS
the highest Of all clouds. You can tell
that by the fact that its thin, twlsty'
Abrous streaks are Illuminated by the
last rays Of the setting sun long a1'er
the earth below is wrapped In SHADOW
Threads and groups Of cirrus Clouds
the finer the better. appearing after
yale presage a long continuance OF
settled weather. On the other nano,
~ after several fine days cirrus appears
IN long parallel bands stretching rlgnt
across the sky in the form popularity
known as mares tails" there VIII al,
most certainly be change OF VIM
and probably rain to follow.
Unlike other clouds, cirrus is CON-
posed not Of water vapor, but OF uny
CRYSTALS Of ice. You can tell by us
motion what the pace and direction
of the highest current of wind. quiet
ly as 1t appears to be moving, carelui
observation has proved that cirrus
sometimes travels at the rate of mile
in eighteen seconds.
Another form Of cloud when Is
usually an accompaniment OF nne'
warm weather are those cottonhke'
whitish balls which are scientifically
termed cumulus.
Early in the morning Of fine sum-
mer day cumulus begins to form as
few soft. scattered specks in the piue
above. These specks grow and enlarge
without. as g rule. travelling very IasI
for they are formed by vapor ascend
ing from the earth in columns. by
early afternoon they often cover the
whole sky. but toward 4 or oclocS
they usually decrease and finally van
fish by sunset. If they behave In this
way you may be almost certain tna'
the ensuing twenty four hours will os
fine.
On the other hand, If the cumulus
clouds increase toward sunset turi
black In their centers and shine at thu
edges with an angry light, rain vii
follow, or, in very hot weather, thunder
Thunder is specially foretold by I'M
cumulus clouds showing rounded
sharply marked tops with silvery whit
edges. Cumulus, which turns yer.
dark with black. shaggy edges, mean
cold rain accompanied by wind.
Cumulus is much the biggest Of an,
form of cloud. A single cloud OF thi
description will measure six or eve
seven miles from its fiat, dark base I
its rounded, glistening summit-that 1
those of earth's greatest mountains
The temperature in such a cloud a
this has been measured to vary owe
$50 degrees-that is, from 80 degree
Fahrenheit at the base to 10 degree
below zero at its summit
Stratus is still another form of clou
which presents no special indication G
rain. 1t is more common at night tina
in the day and consists Of long, nor
zontal bands of darkish cloud, whic
lie very low and near the earth's SUI
face. 1t rises on calm, clear evening
after warm days and may often
seen In mountainous districts slowl
creeping up the hillsides. If the 81
rises through layers Of stratus 1t
usually a sign Of fine, warm day
come. After sunrise, stratus, as rul
rises higher into the air and slowly di
appears.
In early summer, when the weather
showery, you may perhaps motto
through breaks in the rain clouds, q
appearance Of dense white cloudle
in small, irregular tufts brightly TRAD
ated by sunshine. The children call
mackerel sky. Its real name Is Girl
cumulus, and it is sure sign OF he'
and probably fine weather. Seen
winter. mackerel sky portends a tina
and wet, mild weather. 1t is the me-
highest cloud to the cirrus and is som
times called sender cloud.
10 % fr,1 nd
GIRO stratus or vane cloud. 1t cons1s
of long. thin clouds with torn edg
flying at a great height above the cart
1T Is dull in color and irregular
shape.
The wettest cloud of all is nimbu
which is seen in its most perfect for
during thunderstorm. 1t is mixtu
of other clouds, a dense black or grS
sheet which often appears to come
against the wind. Usually when 1t fir
appears driving up over the horiz(
its edges are fringed and tipped wi
rolling masses of cumulus. The mo
ominous sign about nimbus cloud
when its advancing summit is tpp'
with a mass of dense. white. smol
cloud, which seems to roll over al
over. This is an omen Of severe ele
trical disturbance and furious sdua
Not the Same Man.
A thin, nervous looking man steppe
Nd to the pastor as the latter can
down from the pulpit
"You have had a good deal to So
this morning" he observed. about
Teller that killed a man named Abel
Certainly" replied the pastor. IT
Sin of Cain was the subject OF
discourse"
81 wish you'd do me the favor me-
Sunday" said the thin man, in son
excitement, ito tell the folks that Il
IL. hon