The shapes of clouds viewed from space reflect vertical and horizontal motions in the atmosphere. We theorize that, globally, cloud perimeter complexity is related to the dimension of turbulence also governed by horizontal and vertical motions. We find agreement between theory and observations from various satellites and a numerical model and, remarkably, that the theory applies globally using only basic planetary physical parameters from the smallest scales of turbulence to the planetary scale.

Wind energy exhibits extreme variability in space and time. However, they also show scaling properties (properties that remain similar across different time and space of measurement), this can be quantified using appropriate statistical tools. In this line, the scaling properties of power from a wind farm are analyzed here. Since every turbine is manufactured by design for a rated power, this acts as an upper limit in the data. This bias is identified here using data and numerical simulations.

To understand the influence of rainfall on wind power production, turbine power and rainfall were simultaneously measured in an operational wind farm and subjected to analysis. The correlation between wind, wind power, air density and other fields was obtained across various temporal scales during rain and dry conditions. An increase in correlation was observed with an increase in rain; rain also influenced the correspondence between actual and expected values of power at various velocities.

Our paper tours powerful methods of finding the effective behavior of complex systems, which can be applied well beyond the initial setting of sea ice. Applications include transport properties of porous and polycrystalline media, such as rocks and glacial ice, and advection diffusion processes that arise throughout geophysics. Connections to random matrix theory establish unexpected parallels of these geophysical problems with semiconductor physics and Anderson localization phenomena.

How big is a cloud? and How long does the weather last? require scaling to answer. We review the advances in scaling that have occurred over the last 4 decades: (a) intermittency (multifractality) and (b) stratified and rotating scaling notions (generalized scale invariance). Although scaling theory and the data are now voluminous, atmospheric phenomena are too often viewed through an outdated scalebound lens, and turbulence remains confined to isotropic theories of little relevance.