CLOUD TYPES CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING CLOUDS?

3 BASIC CLOUD TYPES CIRRUS- Thin and wispy clouds that form at high levels. They are composed mainly of ice crystals. Cirrus is a Latin word meaning “curl of hair.” STRATUS- A low-altitude cloud formation consisting of a horizontal layer of gray clouds. Latin word meaning “to stretch” or “layer” CUMULUS- Fair weather cumulus have the appearance of floating cotton and have a lifetime of 5-40 minutes. Latin word meaning “heap”.

CIRRUS

Examples of STRATUS Clouds (low level, layered clouds)

Examples of CUMULUS Clouds (puffy, fair-weather clouds)

CUMULONIMBUS Cumulonimbus are very large, heavy and dense clouds. They have a generally flat, dark surface with very tall and large tops like the shape of a massive mountain or anvil. These clouds are often associated with lightning, thunder and sometimes hail. They may also produce a tornado.

Cumulonimbus clouds are formed by massive convection currents. Air begins to rise as it is heated by contact with the warm ground. The air forms separate convection cells, with warm air rising through the centers of the cells and cooler air sinking at their sides

NIMBOSTRATUS (Nimbo is the Latin word for rain)

Nimbostratus is a rain cloud of the layer (stratus) type, It is at a low altitude, usually below 8000 ft (2400 m). Nimbostratus clouds completely block the sunlight.sunlight

LEVELS OF CLOUDS HIGH – prefix CIRRO MIDDLE – prefix ALTO LOW – prefix STRATO

LOW LEVEL CLOUDS STRATOCUMULUS Look for cumulus clouds that look as though they have grown together. They are thicker and denser than the higher level cumulus clouds. They are usually in clusters or layers with very little vertical development.

MIDDLE LEVEL CLOUDS ALTOCUMULUS They have distinct cumulus elements. They can appear in a patchy scattered distribution or in bands of clouds

ALTOSTRATUS They are spread across the sky like most stratus clouds, but you may see some breaks between them.

HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS CIRROCUMULUS They can be patchy or in bands like altocumulus, but appear much thinner because they are at high levels.

CIRROSTRATUS These are high, thin, stratus clouds. They look like a veil across the sky. They often produce a “halo” effect around the sun or moon.

UNUSUAL CLOUDS

LENTICULAR CLOUDS

Lenticular clouds result from a strong airflow over rugged terrain.

Mammatus clouds are found attached to cumulonimbus clouds. They indicate a strong storm coming.

Roll Clouds form when a strong downdraft lifts up warm air to dewpoint. It indicates a strong storm approaching.

Roll clouds as seen from space. These are on the jet stream.

Cirrus clouds on the jet stream. Seen from a satellite.

This is a cloud margin occurring over the Indian Ocean. Where the clouds are thicker indicates a warmer ocean temperature. Cooler temps are where the clouds are thinner (less water evaporating)

A Cloud Made By a Jet CONTRAIL