Very early in my school life I worked out that the classroom could be a bit dull and I began to look out the window and to let my mind wonder. It is good that I did so because I developed a theory of cloud formation of which I am still very proud.
Why were so many clouds in the sky formed into the shape of giant animals? I could see huge cats and elephants and cows and how had this come to pass? Well, I knew enough about natural history to put together a theory. In the distant past giant animals roamed the earth and they were pretty much like animals were now (this was 1971) except they were much, much bigger. So there were giant rabbits and huge elephants and enormous cats and all the rest of it. And when these magnificent creatures died they fell to the ground and if the ground were in any way soft they would form an impression in it in the shape of their body. And after a time their body would be eaten and would rot and disappear and leave a big hole in the ground that matched their shape. And this hole would fill with water when it rained and the sun would shine on the water and cause it to evaporate and hey presto! Up in the sky would be formed a cloud in the shape of one of these animals, now extinct.
This theory has not been subject to peer review. But you’ll have to admit it’s a good one.
1 comment:
Thank you for this explanation. My seven-year-old granddaughter has asked me why the clouds are shaped like animals, and I planned to tell her that there are animals trapped in the clouds, and that they are trying to get out. The problem is that every time the rabbit or the poodle gets ready to escape, its very matter changes and it has to go back in. After all, clouds are made of water vapor.
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