How did clouds get their names? – Richard Hamblyn – YouTube

I love TedTalks and thought this was an interesting one. I remember memorizing the names and characteristics of clouds but never thought about who named them, I guess I assumed it was someone much more ancient, Archimedes perhaps…

The video mentions John Constable, a British painter of the Romantic Era. He is known for his meticulous paintings of the English countryside which often had the meteorological conditions of the day written on the back of the canvas. Here are two of his paintings:

The Opening of Waterloo Bridge seen from Whitehall Stairs, 18 June 1817

By John Constable, Public Domain

Seascape Study with Rain Cloud(c.1824)

By John Constable, Public Domain