Looking up at the clouds not only gives us clues about the upcoming weather, but it can also bring us a sense of unity and happiness. At least that’s what Gavin Preter-Pinney believes – and his enthusiasm is pretty catchy. On Oct. 9, Vail as part of his symposium, he will take audiences on an illustrated tour of the sky and teach them how to recognize cloud patterns and what they mean meteorologically.
Pretor-Pinney founded the Cloud Appreciation Society 18 years ago on a bit of a fluke. A graduate of Oxford University, he studied physics, philosophy and psychology rather than meteorology, but when a friend asked him to give a talk about clouds at a literary festival, he called the session “The Cloud Appreciation Society.” “Inaugural Lecture”. At the time, he thought it was just a funny name, but as it turned out, it became popular before it spread. People showed so much interest that he officially launched the Cloud Appreciation Society, which now has about 62,000 members in 120 countries. Members receive a cloud information wheel to help identify clouds, as well as daily emails with interesting cloud photos taken by people around the world and brief descriptions of cloud patterns.
“It’s a reminder of tomorrow that maybe we’ll want to pay a little more attention to what’s above us. There’s this beautiful abstract art show going on above our heads every day. It reminds us that when we’re stressed, we tend to look down. This is looking up, and looking up raises our perspective and helps us understand this ever-changing story that’s going on, the beginning. It’s about tackling endless stories. It’s an important asset that’s happening in the natural world and in the digital world…The sky is the last wilderness, and it’s within easy reach even for people living in cities.” he said. “The sky is one of the most beautiful parts of nature, and an underappreciated part of the world, even though it makes up more than half of our field of vision.”
He founded the Cloud Appreciation Society to study clouds, but soon realized the subject was a way to bring people together.
“We all live in the same sky. It transcends language. It’s unifying. Whether a sunset is beautiful or not is not a polarizing topic,” he said. He talked about how this sense of connection continually energizes him. “That’s what we need more of. It’s something that brings people together and brings people together.”
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Not only does slowing down and looking up at the sky improve people’s sense of well-being, the science of clouds can also alert us to changes in the weather. Cotton tufts on clear skies, known as cumulus clouds, indicate smooth sailing, while cirrus clouds can be a sign of precipitation.
“This topic is endlessly challenging because we have always looked up to the sky and asked God the first question. And now we understand the atmosphere at a scientific level, but climate change and the Big questions still remain about the environment:” How clouds affect climate change. “It’s not a subject where you think, ‘Oh, great, we’ve solved this,'” he said.
Clouds remain a mystery, but Preter-Pinney simplifies the subject through stunning photographs and useful facts in his talk. Monday’s family program includes stunning photography and fun stories to educate audiences about dramatic cloud formations and their multilayered meaning.
In his native England, he co-founded Idler, a magazine that supports the important role that downtime plays in creative thinking. He won the Royal Society Winton Prize for Scientific Books and published ‘Cloud Spotter’s Guide’ in 2006 and ‘Cloud Spotter’s Handbook’ in 2009. In 2021, he compiled “A Cloud A Day” which includes his 365 color photos of his members with the best cloud patterns. Collected with facts and inspiring quotes by members of the Cloud Appreciation Society. The Cloud Collector’s Handbook, a pocket-sized book on cloud discovery for beginners, will be released this spring.
His fascination with clouds and their fleeting changes is contagious. He makes an undeniably convincing case that watching the clouds change astonishingly from minute to minute can be the key to keeping our heads held high and escaping the pressures of the hectic pace of modern life. I am.