Seize the Autumnal Equinox! Don’t miss the best time to see the clouds →

Today is the autumnal equinox. The most beautiful scenery is actually right above your head. When you go out, remember to look up at the sky!

The sky is high and the clouds are light. Even if you are in the city, you can still feel the beauty of autumn. If you can go to the suburbs on weekends, you will see green mountains and clear water under the blue sky and white clouds. The beauty of autumn will be more fully presented. Watching the clouds in July and August. The seventh and eighth months of the lunar calendar, especially around the autumnal equinox, are the best time to watch the clouds.

Fire Cloud (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

01 What is Qiaoyun

This word, which appears in proverbs, usually refers to the clouds in the sky that are of various shapes, ever-changing and extremely beautiful. They are like works of art carefully crafted by nature, showing amazing ingenuity and beauty.

"Qiaoyun" may take on various shapes, such as animals, plants, mountains, rivers and other natural landscapes, and sometimes even remind people of images in myths and legends. These clouds are also extremely colorful, from pure white to colorful, and can be displayed under the illumination of natural light.

A cloud that looks like a little rabbit (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

A cloud that looks like a little mouse (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

A cloud that looks like a little duck (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

02 Why are Qiaoyun so “Qiaoyun”? Characteristics of autumn clouds

Different types of clouds appear in different seasons due to various reasons such as temperature, humidity, air currents, weather systems, monsoons, etc.

Spring : Unpredictable, sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny, sometimes cold and sometimes hot, with occasional convective weather, and cirrus clouds, cirrostratus clouds, thunderstorm clouds, cumulus clouds, cumulonimbus clouds, etc. often appear.

Summer : The season when typhoons are active. The temperature is high and the humidity is high. Water vapor easily condenses into clouds. Common clouds include typhoon clouds, cumulus clouds, cumulonimbus clouds, stratus clouds, nimbostratus clouds, high-level clouds, and altocumulus clouds.

Autumn : The sky is high and the air is clear, with relatively few clouds, but there are still many types of clouds, the most common of which are cirrus, cirrostratus, cumulus, cumulus alba and stratus. Winter is low in temperature and dry in air, so it is not easy for water vapor to condense into clouds, and the common clouds are stratus, cirrus, cirrostratus and cumulus fragmentus.

Winter : There are few clouds and the temperature is low, so it is best for residents in the north to use heating at home.

The clouds in spring are changeable. As you watch, the clouds change from white to gray and then to black. They are so dark and not very poetic! The clouds in summer are fierce. Even the cumulus clouds are mostly cumulus congestus, which are very large. They develop into cumulonimbus clouds and even approach the ground. The dark pressure is so great that you can hardly breathe, let alone "cleverness". In summary, autumn is the best season to watch the clever clouds.

Wispy cirrus clouds (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

In autumn, most clouds are bright white cirrus and cirrostratus . These clouds are tall and thin, mostly composed of ice crystals. They are bright and dazzling in the sun, and some are wispy, appearing very elegant, gently wandering under the blue sky, high and comfortable. There are also cumulus clouds in autumn, but they are small, like cotton balls, white and soft, with various shapes, which can show the ingenuity and beauty of clouds. Many paintings, especially children's favorite paintings, are of this type of clouds.

03 The “Qiaoyun” of Qiaoyun comes from the clear sky and light clouds

If there were only clever clouds, it would not be enough to see them. The reason why the clever clouds are so "clever" is because the sky is high and the clouds are light in autumn. Against the background of the sky being high and the clouds being light, the clever clouds are "clever" and "clever" and poetic. The reason why the sky is high and the clouds are light in autumn is the combined effect of the increased transparency of the atmosphere, the changes in the air pressure system and the characteristics of the climate.

Lenticular cloud known as UFO (Photo: Wang Yuanhong)

♦After the baptism of the summer rainy season, the particle sedimentation effect in the air is obvious, and the dust and impurity particles in the atmosphere are greatly reduced, which greatly improves the transparency of the atmosphere and makes the sky look clearer.

♦In autumn, the number of coarser particles in the atmosphere decreases, resulting in the sky's ability to scatter longer wavelength light less, while the proportion of shorter wavelength blue-violet light increases relatively, resulting in a scene of clear skies and light clouds.

♦In autumn, especially in the northern region, cold air begins to become active, the temperature drops rapidly, and high pressure is formed. Under the control of high pressure, the air flow sinks, the water vapor in the high altitude is not easy to condense, and the weather is clear.

♦ Autumn is the transition season from summer to winter, and the solar radiation and atmospheric circulation enter seasonal adjustments. The subtropical high pressure begins to retreat southward, and the warm and humid air flow weakens, making both high and low altitudes controlled by high pressure. The entire atmosphere shows a downward movement, with less rain and more clear weather.

♦The temperature gradually drops in autumn, the air humidity is relatively low, and the dry climatic conditions also contribute to the formation of a scene of clear skies and light clouds.

♦Statistics show that in autumn, low clouds in various places will decrease to varying degrees, and medium and high clouds will be more common in the sky, which will create a good atmosphere for Qiao Yun to a certain extent.

04You also need to be “clever” to appreciate the clouds

Watching the beautiful clouds in autumn is a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature in autumn. However, you need to master certain skills to better watch the beautiful clouds. Although the proverb says "Watch the beautiful clouds in July and August", in fact, the whole autumn is a good time to watch the beautiful clouds.

( 1 ) Appropriate time

Know the weather conditions in advance and choose a clear day, especially at noon, when the sky is blue and the clouds are white, creating a sharp contrast, which is suitable for viewing the shapes and changes of clouds. Of course, in the evening of a sunny day, before and after the sun sets, the sky often has gorgeous sunsets, which interweave with the clouds to form beautiful pictures. The clouds you see at this time are rich in colors and various in shapes, which are very visually impactful and a wonderful visual feast.

Sunset in Beijing (Photo source: Xinhua News Agency)

( 2 ) Suitable location

When viewing Qiaoyun, it is best to choose a place with a wide view, such as a mountain top, seaside, grassland, etc., so as to better appreciate the whole sky and clouds. If you really can't go to the suburbs, the roof is also a good choice. When viewing, you can expand your field of vision and view Qiaoyun in combination with local landscapes, such as lakes, rivers, ancient buildings, flying birds, kites, etc., which will increase the fun and layering of viewing.

Zhangjiajie, Hunan, shrouded in mist (Photo source: Xinhua News Agency)

( 3 ) Appropriate state of mind

To appreciate the clouds, you need to be calm and patient, and carefully appreciate the shapes, colors and changes of the clouds. You can find a comfortable place to sit down, appreciate it slowly, and find the long-lost "relaxation". In addition, the charm of the clouds lies in its changeable shapes. You must open your brain and give full play to your imagination to imagine the clouds into various interesting shapes and scenes. You can use a camera or mobile phone to record the beautiful moments of the clouds, so that this beautiful time will last longer. If you are good at time-lapse photography, you can also capture the changes of the clouds for a longer time and take pictures of the feeling of flowing clouds.

If conditions permit, you can organize a photography competition or outing with the theme of autumn clouds. You can capture the beautiful moments of the clouds through the lens, relax your mind and enhance friendship with each other.

When viewing Qiao Yun, you should also pay attention to some matters:

1. Pay attention to weather changes and avoid going out to watch in bad weather.

2. Pay attention to personal safety, especially in dangerous areas such as mountain tops, cliff edges, deep water areas, and seaside areas.

3. Pay attention to sun protection. You can apply sunscreen, wear a hat and sunglasses to prevent ultraviolet damage.

4. Wear light, breathable clothing to facilitate long-term outdoor activities. Add or remove clothing according to weather conditions to avoid overheating or overcooling.

5. If you plan to go to outdoor places such as mountains and seaside to view Qiaoyun, you should choose a pair of comfortable, non-slip shoes to ensure walking safety.

6. Bring along essential items such as a mobile phone, power bank, water, food, and a first aid kit.

summary

In autumn, especially during the autumnal equinox, whether you are in the city or the countryside, whether you are standing on the roof of a building or on the top of a mountain, please look up to appreciate the clouds, and then recite a line from Li He's poem, "A young man's heart should be filled with clouds, who cares about me sitting in the cold and lonely?" Then, the depression and worry, confusion and bewilderment in your heart will instantly dissipate, and a sense of poetry and heroism will emerge, lingering in your heart for a long time.

Author: Wang Yuanhong, Senior Weather and Climate Engineer

Produced by: Science Popularization China

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