Essay on the Modifications of Clouds

Howard's classification of clouds, first published in book form in 1832 and reissued by his sons in 1864.

Inspired by Linnaeus' work in biological classification, Luke Howard (1772–1864) devised a system using Latin terminology to classify clouds. This key work in meteorology was published in the Philosophical Magazine in 1803, and as a book in 1832; this reissue is of the 1864 edition published by his sons.An industrial chemist by profession, Luke Howard (1772–1864) proposed the method of cloud classification that is still in use today. His life-long interest in meteorology led him to produce this landmark work in the history of the subject. General scientific opinion at the time was that clouds were too changeable to be classified, but, inspired by Linnaeus' work in biological classification, Howard proposed a method which used Latin terminology - cirrus, cumulus, stratus and nimbus - to provide a standard description for each of three groups of cloud types. His work was first published in the Philosophical Magazine in 1803; it was produced in book form in 1832 but went quickly out of print. This reissue is of the third printing (1865) of the edition brought out after his death in 1864 by two of his sons. Howard's other meteorological works are also reissued in this series.