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A new edition of the International Cloud Atlas is scheduled to be released simultaneously with this Bulletin following three years of hard work. The International Cloud Atlas is the world's reference for the identification and classification of clouds and other meteorological meteors. The Cloud Atlas' use by the WMO Members ensures that there is consistency in reporting by observers from around the world. The Atlas that was first published over a century ago in 1896 has not had many updates. There have been numerous fundamental changes in the world since the most recent Atlas in 1975/1987, to include the emergence of the Internet and the invention of cellular phones with cameras. There have also been important advancements in scientific understanding, making it the perfect time for a new edition.

With today's high-quality cameras and modern technology, they can deliver an abundance of excellent photographic examples of different clouds and all the other meteorological phenomena, which provides better images for the Cloud Atlas than ever before. This allows people to present and share more phenomena, and to illustrate variations in their appearance with different locations and a variety of viewing conditions. In an age where the Internet has become a primary resource, the new Cloud Atlas edition will also give the reference a strong online presence. Without this, many alternative cloud atlases have appeared online. And this threatens the global standardization of cloud classification, which is one of the main reasons for the existence of the International Cloud Atlas. The images that are used for the new edition of the Cloud Atlas often have much better quality and information than those used in the previous version. For example, the new photo for fog shows the phenomenon's effect on horizontal visibility much better.

The new Cloud Atlas leaps into the 21st century with 12 new cloud types to include names like Volutus, Asperitus, Cavum, Murus, and the Cauda to name a few. Volutus is a new species of cloud that surrounds the various roll clouds. These clouds are formed as long, horizontal tubes, that detach from any other clouds in their vicinity, which are caused by differences in wind speed and direction between the surface and higher up (aka wind shear). Formerly known as undulatus asperatus, when the supplemental feature Asperitus shows up, it's almost like looking at waves on the surface of the water, but from a vantage point under the water. The Cloud Atlas separates this from the undulatus clouds since undulatus are much more organized. Cavum is now the formal name of what's been called a "fallstreak cloud" or "hole punch cloud. A Murus, or wall cloud, is a supplemental feature that takes the shape of bank of cloud that lowers from the base of a supercell, is associated with strong updrafts, and can indicate the presence, or impending development, of a tornado. A Cauda, which is also known as a tail cloud, is another supplemental feature, the cloud looks a bit like a dinosaur's tail trailing behind a storm. Cauda is caused by air flowing into the storm; its tube-like shape can sometimes be mistaken for tornados.

This supplemental of the clouds is a feature that is caused when ice crystals are introduced into a thin cloud that is made of super-cooled water droplets, usually due to an aircraft passing through the cloud on takeoff or landing. The water droplets in the cloud remain liquid well below freezing since there is nothing present in them to freeze onto. You will find this video about clouds on The Weather Network site. On the side, you will find everything to do with the weather, clouds, world, animals, space and more. **

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