Sky Condition
Finally, you make your way to a high spot on the ship to do your sky observations. Here you'll determine cloud type, height, and amount. It is definitely an observation that gets easier with practice.
Sky condition can be summarized by four key parameters:
- Clouds and obscurations (aloft and at the surface)
- Cloud type - the variety of clouds present
- Summation layer amount - reports of sky cover at and below each identified layer
- Layer height - the base height of each cloud layer or obscuration, reported in increments of 100 feet from 100-5000 feet, in increments of 500 feet from 5000-10,000 feet, and in increments of 1000 feet for 10,000 feet and greater.
Sky condition observations are often easier at sea than on land, as there are no buildings or other obstructions present that would be found on land. However, this lack of structures and comparative surface objects can make determining cloud heights more difficult.