skyshadow_raven Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Maybe this can be in the lowest priority in the next version of Lock On. Can there be different cloud types? So far all clouds I've seen are either the overcast of the fluffy ones. I believe there are more cloud types like the cirrus clouds found on the high altitudes or the altocumulus found in mid-altitude. As far as I can remember in my primary school days there can be combinations of cirrus, stratus, cumulus and nimbus clouds. Could these be modeled in Lock On? "I knew a guy who gave up once....he died."
skyshadow_raven Posted December 2, 2004 Author Posted December 2, 2004 Cirrus clouds are found around 18000 feet so I guess if the devs should add this cloud type, they should probably make it similar to a haze effect since these types are thin and wispy clouds. They can be simple cirrus (thin, icy wisps), cirrocumulus (puffy), or cirrostratus (flat, sheetlike clouds). Status clouds are quite easy because it is similar to the haze. These type of cloud is found in different altitudes varying from high level (above 20,000 ft.), middle level (6,500-20,000 ft.), and low level (below 6,500 ft.). Nimbostratus are dark, low-level clouds accompanied by light to moderately falling precipitation. Low clouds are primarily composed of water droplets since their bases generally lie below 6,500 feet (2,000 meters). However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow. Puffy, evolving rain clouds are Cumulonimbus. These clouds can evolve into thunderstorms. Altostratus (a flat cloud covering) or Altocumulus (white, cottony clouds) are between 6,500 and 18,000 feet. Stratocumulus look like mounds of whipped cream or cotton. I wish these can be modeled to allow for more realism. Though I guess modeling these cloud types would be a real FPS killer. "I knew a guy who gave up once....he died."
Shepski Posted December 2, 2004 Posted December 2, 2004 A few corrections... Cirrus is the highest cloud layer and can range from 20,000 feet into the 40's. Cirrus is normally thin and whispy. Stratus is layer cloud. Cumulus is the puffy cotton ball clouds that you see building in the summer do to heating of the ground. If the cotton balls continue to grow vertically, due to colder unstable air, they become towering cumulus which can further develop into cumulonimbus which is a thunderstorm cell. All "alto" means is mid level so altostratus would be a mid level stratus layer. Basically, clouds are divided into 4 areas... 1. High clouds... cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus. 20,000 to 40,000 feet. 2. Middle clouds... altostratus, altocumulus, and altocumulus castellanus(towering cumulus mixed in an altocumulus layer)... 6,500 to 20,000 feet. 3. Low clouds... stratus, nimbostratus(rain or snow), stratocumulus, stratus fractus(stratus layer ripped or fractured by the wind), and cumulus fractus... 6,500 feet and below. 4. Vertical clouds... cumulus, towering cumulus, and cumulonimbus(thunderstrom)... based at 1,600 feet and can build upwards of 50,000 feet depending on the height of the tropopause. And yes... we'd all love to see a much more dynamic and detailed weather engine in a future Eagle Dynamics sim. :)
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