He was an American meteorologist who gave the first cut of explanation of the thermodynamics of cloud formation and growth. He was also the first to collect meteorological observations by telegraph. He demonstrated that the great atmospheric disturbance begins with a rising mass of hot and less dense air. The air mass dilates and cools down while rising. Then water vapors convert into clouds and latent heat is released in the process. The heavier air flows below the less dense air and experiences less pressure from above. It rises upwards and water gets precipitated during this disturbance causing heavy rains.