‘Nephology’ is the study of clouds but you don’t have to be a scientist to have an interest in clouds.

Is Your Head In The Clouds?

by Paul Hadley

It seems like everything is ‘in the cloud’ these days but having one’s ‘head in the clouds’ is not usually considered a compliment.

‘Nephology’ is the study of clouds (Who would have thought?) but you don’t have to be a scientist to have an interest in clouds. Forget all those Latin words for the different types of clouds – Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratocumulus, Lenticular, Mammatus etc. etc.

Spectacular, majestic, ominous, amazing are just a few words that can be used to describe clouds. You don’t have to travel beyond your backyard or street to see them. We just have to look up.

They aren’t a life form, yet they seem to have a life of their own. To see a cloud develop out of nowhere, to grow and coalesce with other clouds is to excite wonder. To see a thunderstorm build is to excite fear. To see the rain fall on a drought stricken pasture is to excite hope.

Like much of nature we can observe both cruelty and gentleness from the one source. Clouds provide life giving rain on the one hand yet with the potential for flooding destruction on the other.

The most spectacular sunsets or sunrises we can witness it’s certain the clouds will be there, as the sun rays reflect off them and glow through them.

So Yes! It’s OK to have your head in the clouds after all.

Author Bio: Paul Hadley is a long time resident of the Western Sydney City of Blacktown who has always been excited by the richness nature displays, even in the least rich suburbs of Australia. It’s the great equalizer.
Previous stories submitted to ‘The Urban Field Naturalist Project’
-An Aussie Bee
-My Tern Now
-Identity Crisis
-Going Cuckoo

Location: Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia