Examples of inferred probability density functions of geometrical path lengths (PDF-GP) for zenith-scattered skylight transmitted by cloudy skies at midlatitude (50 ¿N, 8.2 ¿E) are reported. The method relies on high resolution spectroscopy of the O2 A-band (760 nm--780 nm) absorption in the transmitted sky-light, and an inverse Laplace transform to recover the PDF-GP from the absorption strengths of a set of A-band absorption lines. Some examples of a larger set of measurements are presented and discussed in detail. These examples include PDF-GPs for typical midlatitude summer (fair weather Cumulus) and winter (Stratus) cloudiness. Moreover, two cloud observations with largely enhanced O2 A-band absorptions (up to a factor of 7 implying a mean geometrical path length of about 116 km) are discussed, namely the PDF-GPs of thunderstorm clouds (Cumulonimbus, Cb) and of clouds formed in a cold front (Stratocumulus, Sc; Altostratus, As; Nimbostratus, Ns; Cirrus, Ci). ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union