Cloud formation and climate change


Nephology is the study of clouds and cloud formation. British meteorologist Luke Howard was a major researcher within this field, establishing a cloud classification system.
While this branch of meteorology still exists today, the term nephology, or nephologist is rarely used. The term came into use at the end of the nineteenth century, and fell out of common use by the middle of the twentieth.
Recently, interest in nephology has surged as many meteorologists have begun to focus on the relationship between clouds and global warming.
Some nephologists believe that an increase in global temperature could decrease the thickness and brightness, which would further increase global temperature. Recently research has been going on at CERN's CLOUD facility to study the effects of the solar cycle and cosmic rays on cloud formation.