Masterclass Lessons

The message of the clouds – Lesson 11: Gallery of cloud types

In this lesson we will look at a gallery of many of the different cloud types you will come across as a pilot or skywatcher.
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Clouds building in a stormy looking sky

The message of the clouds – Lesson 10: Dangers and annoyances

Clouds will not only help you decide when and where you should fly, but they can also warn you against unseen dangers in the air.
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What clouds tell us

The message of the clouds – Lesson 9: What clouds tell us

Clouds are up there where we want to be. That's an important reason why they can tell us what the air is doing and what is going to happen.
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Illustration of cloud types by Steve Ham

The message of the clouds – Lesson 8: Cloud types and classification

In this lesson we will look at what the main types of clouds are and how they are classified by altitude and shape.
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A sea of cloud in the mountains at sunset

The message of the clouds – Lesson 7: Visibility

In this lesson we will talk about the how weather in general, and clouds specifically influence visibility.
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Rain and virga

The message of the clouds – Lesson 6: Rain

Rain means a ruined flying day for many pilots. So why do we want to know more about rain besides it's wet and unflyable?
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A cumulus cloud above the Alps

The message of the clouds – Lesson 5: Cloud life and old clouds 

How long does a cloud live? Is it worth racing towards that puffy cumulus cloud or will it have died and vanished once you get there?
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Learning about cloud tops

The message of the clouds – Lesson 4: Cloudbase and cloud tops

In this lesson you will see that cloudbase is often roughly at the same height, but cloud tops are not. Why is that and what does that mean?
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How high is cloudbase?

The message of the clouds – Lesson 3: How high is cloudbase?

In this lesson, you'll learn how to calculate how high cloudbase is on any given day using the dew point and ground temperature
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Condensation

The message of the clouds – Lesson 2: Condensation

For rain or snow to form the droplets of water need something to coalesce around. Learn how this forms raindrops
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