A dramatic cloud formation that looks like a roiling sheet of grey is the latest addition to the International Cloud Atlas.

This is the World Meteorological Organisation's international guide to the classification of clouds and other weather phenomena which it has published since 1896.

On World Meteorological Day which fell on Thursday (March 23), the weather organization published the latest edition.

The new cloud, together with a few other classifications, have been included in the authoritative tome on clouds - updated for the first time in 30 years. The atlas is also available online for the first time.

Here's a look at Asperitas and some other unusual cloud forms:

1. Rough skies - Asperitas

The cloud's name is derived from the Latin word for "roughness". The Britain-based Cloud Appreciation Society first proposed the addition a few years after it was recorded in Iowa in 2006.

The society said: "It is a classic example of citizen science, in which observations by the general public, enabled by the technology of smartphones and the Internet, have influenced the development of this most official of classification systems."

The newly added asperitas cloud is described in the atlas as having "waves in the cloud base, either smooth or dappled", looking up at the clouds can seem like " viewing a roughened sea surface from below".

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Dark and Brooding #Asperitas over Northants #UK yesterday https://t.co/31VTEKlBg5 Thanks to @JoLucyKelly #StormHour pic.twitter.com/voYyOvqW2X

— #StormHour (@StormHour) August 28, 2016

2. Cloud on a roll - Volutus

Volutus simply means "roll" in Latin, and before it took on this official classification, such clouds were commonly known as roll clouds.

It is described in the atlas as a " long, horizontal, detached, tube-shaped cloud mass, often appearing to roll slowly about a horizontal axis".

Morning glories are a species of volutus where a few roll clouds are seen in parallel, forming a spectacular sight.

 

A post shared by Chris P (@bighoits) on Mar 20, 2017 at 7:14pm PDT

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3. The wave and the hole - Fluctus & Cavum

These two distinctly shaped clouds have also been added to the atlas.

The fluctus is a wave formation on the top of the cloud due to wind shear. The atlas says it is "relatively short-lived". They were known as Kelvin-Helmholtz waves.

The cavum is more about the absence of cloud - a large hole commonly known as a fallstreak hole or hole-punch cloud.

 

When the clouds are lit 🔥 @kellsarmst informed me that they are named Kelvin-Helmoltz clouds and are pretty rare. I rate it would make for some sketchy turbulence ✈️ . . . . #kelvinhelmoltzclouds #kelvinhelmholtz #billowclouds #sheargravityclouds #capetownmag #capetown #capetownskies #clouds #surfing

A post shared by L i z a (@lizamich) on Mar 20, 2017 at 3:34pm PDT

 

🌈 @colossal | An extremely rare #FallstreakHole 📍Korumburra, Victoria, 📸: David Barton. Fallstreak holes form in cloud layers that contain super-cooled water droplets (that is, water droplets that are less than zero degrees but haven't actually frozen yet). A trigger (usually a plane passing through the cloud) causes the cloud droplets to freeze and then evaporate due to a reaction known as the Bergeron process, leaving a hole and whispy cirrus cloud in it's wake. The ice crystals in the cirrus can create an impressive rainbow effect due to sunlight being refracted (or bent) off the crystal prisms, creating different wavelengths that our eyes interpret as different colours.

A post shared by TheYesUniverse (@yesladypheonix) on Dec 28, 2015 at 5:17pm PST

4. Aircraft traces - Cirrus homogenitus

That is the new name for contrails or condensation/vapour trails left by aircraft. It only applies if the trail lasts for at least 10 minutes, says the atlas.

 

Contrails spotted over Denton, UK, by Nicky Clarke (Member 17,856) #cloudappreciation #cloudspotting #cloudspotterapp #clouds #cloud #contrail

A post shared by The Cloud Appreciation Society (@cloudappsoc) on Feb 9, 2017 at 11:05pm PST

5. Cloud bust - Mamma

In Latin, "mamma" means breast or udder. These refer to hanging globules, like udders, under a variety of clouds.

 

Mamma, also known as mammatus, are the boob clouds. What more can we say? Photographed over Tarrant County, Texas, US, by 'Cali_fly'. #CloudOfTheDay #CloudSpotterApp #cloudspotter #NoFilter #clouds

A post shared by The Cloud Appreciation Society (@cloudappsoc) on Mar 4, 2016 at 10:06am PST

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6. Cloud fall - Cataractagenitus

These appear near large waterfalls, giving the falls a mystical quality.The clouds condense as water is broken up into spray by the falls.

7. Ominous clouds - Cumulonimbus, shelf clouds

Cumulus clouds are the cottony, generic fluff we drew as kids. Tag "nimbus", or rainy, and you get the infamous thunderstorm cloud that many Singapore residents know means a wet day ahead.

These stacks can grow to a height of between 8 and 12 km. When a few come together, they can look quite threatening.

Shelf clouds, which are wedge-shaped and low hanging, can be scary looking. It can form just ahead of a storm or or a cold front.

Sydney opera house with shelf cloud & lightning is the best one I've seen yet. #australiawx pic.twitter.com/fz8VT5q9Pv

— Julie (@wxjoules) March 5, 2014

Sources: World Meteorological Organisation, Cloud Appreciation Society, Meteorological Service Singapore

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