1. Leading Cadet Training
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Leading Cadet Training
Cloud Formations
Lecture 6

2. Cloud Formations Cirrus Cumulus Stratus Clouds are named
according to both their shape
and their height.
There are three main types of cloud:
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus

3. Cloud Formations Cirrus Cumulus Stratus
Is a thread or hair-like cloud.
Is a lumpy or heaped cloud.
Is a featureless layer of cloud.
The basic names of clouds may be combined,
and the prefixes Cirro- Alto- or Strato- added
to identify the height at which the cloud is occurring.
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus

4. Cloud Formations signifies High Cloud signifies Medium Cloud
signifies Low Cloud
So as well as Cirrus, Cumulus and Stratus
we also have –
Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus
(High Stratus and Cumulus cloud)
Altostratus and Altocumulus
(Medium Stratus and Cumulus cloud)
Stratocumulus
(Low Cumulus cloud)
Cirro-
Alto-
Strato-

5. Cloud Formations There is another word we must understand – Nimbus
(Latin for rain)
Cumulus may be combined with nimbus
to give Cumulonimbus –
a heaped rain cloud.
And a layer cloud from which rain is falling
is called
Nimbostratus.

6. Our rain bearing clouds Our three cloud heights
Cirro-stratus
Alto-stratus
Stratus
(Layered)
Cloud Formations
Cirrus
(Hair-like)
High Cloud
Cirro-cumulus
(CIRRO)
Our three basic clouds
Our rain bearing clouds
Our three cloud heights
Cumulo-nimbus
Medium Cloud
(ALTO)
Alto-cumulus
Cumulus
(Lumpy)
Strato-cumulus
Low Cloud
(STRATO)
Nimbo-stratus

7. Our three cloud heights Our rain bearing clouds
Cloud Formations
Our three cloud heights
Our three basic clouds
Our rain bearing clouds
High Cloud
(CIRRO)
Cirro-cumulus
Cirrus
(Hair-like)
Cirro-stratus
Medium Cloud
(ALTO)
Alto-cumulus
Alto-stratus
Cumulo-nimbus
Nimbo-stratus
Strato-cumulus
Stratus
(Layered)
Cumulus
(Lumpy)
Low Cloud
(STRATO)

8. Cloud Formations Stratus - Featureless layer of cloud.
Cirro-Stratus
Stratus
Alto-Stratus
Nimbo-Stratus
Cumulus - A lumpy or heaped cloud.
Cumulus
Alto-Cumulus
Cirro-Cumulus
Cumulo-Nimbus
Cirrus – ‘hair’ and ‘thread’ like cloud
Cirrus

9. Cloud Formations HIGH LEVEL Cirro-Stratus Cirrus Cirro-Cumulus MEDIUM
Alto-Stratus
Alto-Cumulus
Cumulo-Nimbus
MEDIUM
LEVEL
Nimbo-Stratus
Stratus
Cumulus
LOW
LEVEL

10. Check of Understanding
Stratus is what type of cloud?
Hair-like
Featureless layer
Thread-like
Lumpy or heaped

11. Check of Understanding
When alto is used as a prefix in a name
of a type of cloud,
that cloud may be found at:
Any level
Low level
Medium level
High level

12. Check of Understanding
Which of these would be found only at high level?
Strato-cumulus
Alto-stratus
Alto-cumulus
Cirro-stratus

13. Check of Understanding
Which type of cloud is lumpy or heaped?
Nimbo
Stratus
Cumulus
Cirrus

14. Check of Understanding
Name this HIGH level cloud formation
Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus
Cirrus
Altostratus

15. Check of Understanding
Name this LOW level cloud formation
Stratus
Cumulus
Nimbostratus
Altocumulus

16. Check of Understanding
Name this MEDIUM level cloud formation
Altocumulus
Stratus
Nimbostratus
Cirrus

17. Check of Understanding
Name this HIGH level cloud formation
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrus
Altostratus

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