Weather and atmosphere on ZME Science

What is a waterspout and did one sink the Bayesian luxury yacht?

Are waterspouts some of Europe's most underestimated disasters?

Stratocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Stratocumulus clouds are an intriguing and common sight in the sky.

Cumulonimbus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Understanding nature's most dramatic skyscape, the Cumulonimbus cloud.

Cumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Understanding Cumulus clouds and their significance in weather forecasting can help you connect with the dynamic atmosphere above you

Stratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

The science behind Stratus clouds, their formation, identification, and implications in weather prediction.

Nimbostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

An impartial and factual guide to understanding and identifying Nimbostratus clouds.

Altostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Discover the facts about the fascinating altostratus cloud formation, its characteristics, and how it influences weather predictions.

Altocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Altocumulus clouds are fascinating formations that grace our skies

Cirrostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

It's time to turn your gaze skyward as we delve into the world of cirrostratus clouds.

Cirrocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Discover the wonders of cirrocumulus clouds, the charming and enigmatic clouds floating high above.

Cirrus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Learn about the fascinating world of cirrus clouds, the wispy and high-flying wonders of the sky.

Why clouds don't fall: the physics behind the sky's fluffy wonders

They never fall but they pour.

The different types of clouds: what they mean for weather

Clouds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Each type can mean different weather conditions.

Storm Recipe: How Cyclones, Typhoons and Hurricanes Are Formed

Storms can get extremely intense -- and climate change is only making them worse.

Could cloud seeding be mankind's superpower, allowing us to control rain

You can make it rain anywhere, all you need to do is some cloud seeding. At least, that's the theory.

If the atmosphere is chaotic, how can we trust climate models?

There's a lot of chaos in the atmosphere. But that doesn't mean we can't model it.

What is the albedo effect, and why it matters in the climate crisis

Warm, sleep, melt, repeat.

How much do clouds weigh?

A typical cumulus cloud weighs as much as 100 elephants.

What causes the wind and where does it come from?

Differences in air pressure are what drives the formation of wind. But, ultimately, the wind is caused by the Sun.

Water from thin air: a look at how rain and precipitation forms

There are a lot of elements that come together to 'make it rain'. Both in nature and in the club.

How palm trees thrive in Vancouver despite the freezing Canadian weather

Palm trees in Vancouver aren't fake.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific which impacts weather patterns.

What are tornadoes and how do they form?

Tornadoes are associated with the strongest and most violent storms, reaching winds of up to 300 miles per hour (480 km/h).

'Fire Rainbows' - What they are, how they form, and of course, great pictures

With the recent sighting of a fire rainbow in South Carolina, there seems to be a sudden surge of interest for this phenomenon, so I thought I’d come back with some more information. First of all, they’re not ‘fire rainbows’; in fact, they’re not rainbows at all. The correct name is circumhorizontal arc, and it’s […]

The Skypunch - not a fancy anime combat move, but just as awesome

"Skypunch" is the colloquial name of a phenomenon known as a Fallstreak hole - a large circular or elliptical gap that can appear in cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds.

Why does it rain so much in London? Well, it's not that much really

Did you know it rains more in Miami, Orlando and NYC than in London?

8 examples of photometeors w/ pics

The response to the awesome phenomena article was amazing, I’d really like to thank you all! I was really surprised to see how many of you actually contributed and sent me more pictures of awesome phenomena, so I’ll definitely do a follow up in a few days, mentioning who gave me the tip, so keep […]

8 totally awesome natural phenomena you probably didn't know about

The Maelstrom When you hear a name like maelstrom, you just know it’s about something wicked. Introduced in English by Edgar Allan Poe from the Nordic languages, from which it came from the Dutch word maelstrom (maalstroom in modern spelling), it literally means crushing current, which is quite a very good description. A maelstom is […]

Understanding thunder and lightning

In ancient times, people looked up to the sky and thought it was the home of the gods; they found a divine explanation for pretty much all natural phenomena, and thunder was usually a tool of the gods. Strange enough, but today things aren’t really that different. Sure, you’ll say, we know it’s a discharge […]

How are rainbows made? The colorful physics behind

What are Rainbows? Rainbows are some of the most spectacular phenomena in nature; they’ve fascinated and stimulated our imagination since the dawn of mankind, and continue to do so to this day. There are all sorts of legends surrounding them, from the treasure at the end of the rainbow to the house of gods for which […]