Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
ACP
Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6951-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6951-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
Research article
 | 
22 May 2026
Research article |  | 22 May 2026

Toward less subjective metrics for quantifying the shape and organization of clouds

Thomas D. DeWitt, Timothy J. Garrett, and Karlie N. Rees

Viewed

Total article views: 7,094 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
5,769 1,039 286 7,094 206 214
  • HTML: 5,769
  • PDF: 1,039
  • XML: 286
  • Total: 7,094
  • BibTeX: 206
  • EndNote: 214
Views and downloads (calculated since 01 Aug 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 01 Aug 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 7,094 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 7,069 with geography defined and 25 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 22 May 2026
Download
Short summary
Clouds appear chaotic, but they in fact follow fractal mathematical patterns similar to coastlines. We measured their fractal properties using satellite images and found two key numbers that describe cloud shapes: one for how rough individual cloud edges are, and another for how clouds of different sizes organize together. We recommend methodology that provides objective ways to verify whether climate models accurately simulate real clouds.
Read more
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint