How to Measure Height of Clouds with Binoculars, Camera, etc.

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Cloud height can be roughly estimated using winds-aloft speed and measuring angular movement. Pilots often rely on cloud morphology, as specific shapes correspond to certain altitudes. There is skepticism regarding using color to determine cloud height, as it is considered too subjective for accurate measurement. The consensus among pilots is that color is not a reliable factor in assessing cloud altitude. Accurate cloud height measurement typically requires more objective methods than visual color assessment.
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Hi all

Clouds can be very high or quite low and we all just guess. How can we roughly identify the height of a cloud by using binoculars, camera or anything?

Thanks
 
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If you know the winds-aloft speed, you can measure the angular movement against that.
 
Pilots usually gauge cloud height by their morphology. In other words, certain cloud shapes generally occupy specific altitudes.

- Warren
 
I have heard somewhere they can approx. the cloud's height by its color, but I am not sure. Does anyone know this?
 
pixel01 said:
I have heard somewhere they can approx. the cloud's height by its color, but I am not sure. Does anyone know this?

I can't imagine this is possible. Your eye is too subjective an instrument to be of much use in accurately measuring color. I can tell you that, as a pilot, we do not consider color at all.

- Warren
 

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