The Daily The Sunday Read: ‘The Amateur Cloud Society That (Sort Of) Rattled the Scientific Community’
Jan 24, 2021
Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, discusses the intriguing intersection of amateur observation and scientific authority in cloud appreciation. He shares his journey from running a leisure magazine to inspiring a global community of cloud enthusiasts. The conversation highlights the emotional and cultural significance of clouds, showcasing moments from the society's 10th anniversary and the creation of new cloud classifications like Asperitas. Through personal stories and art, Gavin illustrates how cloud-watching fosters connection and joy.
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The Birth of a Cloud Society
- Gavin Pretor-Pinney, burnt out from his magazine, The Idler, found solace in clouds during a sabbatical in Rome.
- This led him to create the Cloud Appreciation Society, a whimsical online community for cloud lovers.
Discovering Asperatus
- Members of the Cloud Appreciation Society noticed a unique cloud formation appearing in photos worldwide.
- Pretor-Pinney, recognizing its distinctness, named it 'Asperatus', meaning 'roughened' in Latin.
Clouds in Culture and History
- Historically, clouds held symbolic meaning, inspiring artists like John Constable and writers like Shakespeare.
- Clouds invite imaginative interpretation, from childhood games of shape recognition to finding deeper meaning.
