Cloud Classification
Clouds are classified according to:
Cloud Classification
Clouds are classified according to:
●
Height: low; middle (or alto); high; or vertically developed
(deep)
Cloud Classification
Clouds are classified according to:
●
●
Height: low; middle (or alto); high; or vertically developed
(deep)
Form: cirrus, stratus, cumulus
- cirrus is thin, or wispy
- stratus is layered, or sheet-like (extended)
- cumulus is lumpy, or puffy
Cloud Classification
Clouds are classified according to:
●
●
Height: low; middle (or alto); high; or vertically developed
(deep)
Form: cirrus, stratus, cumulus
- cirrus is thin, or wispy
- stratus is layered, or sheet-like (extended)
- cumulus is lumpy, or puffy
●
Nimbus or, well, not nimbus
- nimbus means raining
Cloud Classification
Clouds are classified according to:
●
●
Height: low; middle (or alto); high; or vertically developed
(deep)
Form: cirrus, stratus, cumulus
- cirrus is thin, or wispy
- stratus is layered, or sheet-like (extended)
- cumulus is lumpy, or puffy
●
Nimbus or, well, not nimbus
- nimbus means raining
Combining categories leads to roughly 10 (maybe 11) basic
types
High clouds: roughly
6 km and up (upper
troposphere)
Middle clouds: roughly
2 km to 6 km (middle
troposphere)
Low clouds: below
roughly 2 km (lower
troposphere)
●
The typical composition of the clouds varies by height:
- High clouds: mainly ice
- Middle clouds: mixed ice and water
- Low clouds: mostly water
High clouds: cirrus
Height: above 6 km
Composition: mainly ice
Form: thin, white, wispy
High clouds: cirrostratus
Height: above 6 km
Composition: mainly ice
Form: thin continuous layer
High clouds: cirrocumulus
Height: above 6 km
Composition: mainly ice
Form: dotted or speckled
(lumpy, but at a distance)
Middle clouds: altostratus
Height: between 2 and 6 km
Composition: water and/or ice
Form: continuous gray layer
(dimly transparent)
Middle clouds: altocumulus
Height: between 2 and 6 km
Composition: water and/or ice
Form: puffy lumps (often in
sheets)
Low clouds: stratus
Height: below 2 km (but often
several km deep)
Composition: mainly water
Form: dark, depressing gray layer
Low clouds: nimbostratus
Height: below 2 km (but often
several km deep)
Composition: mainly water
Form: like stratus, but raining
(irregular at the bottom)
Low clouds: stratocumulus
Height: below 2 km
Composition: mainly water
Form: extended lumps (or broken
sheet) with dark bottoms
Low clouds: fair-weather cumulus
Height: below 2 km
Composition: mainly water
Form: puffy cotton balls
Deep clouds: towering cumulus
Height: base below 2 km, but
extending upwards
Composition: mainly water
Form: cauliflower heads
Deep clouds: cumulonimbus
Height: extending through most of
the troposphere
Composition: water, ice, hail, etc.
Form: massive, menacing, run away