Find height of the cloud by Trigonometry...?

Question

can someone please tell me the steps of calculating the height of the cloud using trigonometry (by sin, cos, tan..)

is it even possible?

Answer 1

We had an instrument called a RBC(Rotating Beam Ceilometer) and that measured the base of clouds,  using two sensors at either end of the runaway.   The clouds if thick enough would be picked up by triangulation from a beam of energy that is sent up by a virtual projector.  This machine measure the angles and produced a cloud height based the trig function you mentioned above.

Answer 2

Well it can be done, but unless you have some specific tools (i.e. an clinometer to measure angles), it will only be an estimate.  It will help you if you draw this out on paper as I describe it.  

Think of the point where you are standing (point A) and the point at the top of the cloud (point B) as a point on a right triangle.  The imaginary line that connects the top of the cloud with the ground directly below the cloud (point C) makes a right angle with the ground itself (assuming you're on a relatively flat surface).  Therefore, the imaginary line that connects Point A to point B is the hypotenuse of the triangle.  But what you want to know is the length of the line that connects point B to point C, call this LineBC.  Now, you need to estimate or measure 2 things:

1) The angle between the ground and the hypotenuse at the point you are standing...call this AngleCAB

2) The distance between where you are standing (point A) to the point on the ground directly beneath the cloud (point C)...call this LineAC

Now you can use the law of tangents to compute the length of LineBC.  Use the equation:

tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent

substitute in your variables

tan(AngleCAB) = LineBC / LineAC

now just solve for your unknown, which is Line BC

LineBC = tan(AngleCAB) * LineAC

I've done this before with thunderstorms.  I've had to estimate the angle...then I've used a radar to estimate the distance between my point and the storm.  

It's confusing without being able to draw a picture, but hopefully my description helped.