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Cloud Classification

1. Based on Altitude

2. Appearance

from the ground

LATIN ROOTS

Cirrus - Curl of hair-Wispy fibers or Feathery-Latin word for curl

nimbus - Rain

stratus -Sheets or layers- no individual clouds-Latin word for layer or blanket

cumulus -Globular individual clouds-Puffy / cauliflower like-Latin word for heap

IDENTIFICATION

CIRRO- High level

ALTO- Middle Level

Low Level

Vertically Developing Clouds

Miscellaneous Types

High Level Clouds

-Base of the Cloud is above 6000 m (over 20,000 feet) - very cold

- Composed of ice crystals

- Thin and white in appearance

Cirrus

- Called “Mares’ Tails”

WEATHER:

-Usually associated with fair weather

-Sometimes in advance of a storm system

- Wispy or feathery in appearance

- White-veined clouds that produce “halos” around sun or moon (due to light waves being bent by ice crystals)

Cirro-Stratus

WEATHER:

-Precipitation will follow

- Appear like rippled sand or waves or fish scales

- “Mackeral Sky”

- Least common of high clouds

Cirrocumulus

http://aposf02.cityu.edu.hk/~ksliu/obs/cloud/Cirrocumulus1.jpg

WEATHER:

-Omen of good weather

Mid Level Clouds

- Bases appear between 2,000 & 6,000 m.

(10,000 – 20,000 feet)

- Composed mainly of water droplets

Alto-Cumulus

- Puffy / often rippled or appear in waves

WEATHER:

- consider fair weather, they often follow storms

- White to gray / larger than cirrocumulus

- “Sheep-back” clouds

- Formless gray or bluish in color

WEATHER:

- light precipitation is coming

Alto-stratus

http://www.mmem.spschools.org/grade5science/weather/altostratus.jpeg

- Forms a thin veil over Sun or moon

Low Level Clouds

- Base below 2,000 m (under 10,000 feet)

- Composed usually of water droplets unless the temperatures are very cold

Cumulus

- Dense, billowy clouds

WEATHER:

- Fair weather / lasts for a relatively short period of time then disappear

- Can be isolated or closely packed

- Flat bases, developing vertically

Strato-Cumulus

- Rolling mass of thin lumpy clouds / often joined together / might appear in rows

WEATHER:

- Some precipitation with breaks of clear sky in between

- Not long lasting

- Puffy, Soft, gray clouds

- overcasted, Uniform cloud resembling fog

WEATHER:

-rain or drizzle

-Lift quickly and indicate a fine day ahead

Stratus

- low layer that covers entire sky

Nimbo-stratus- Dark gray sheets that blot out the sum

WEATHER:

-Indicative of lengthy precipitation

-Light to moderate precipitation in the form of rain or snow depending on the temperature

Other CloudsContrails – High level / extremely cold temperatures formed from Jet engines

Billows – unstable air flows

Mammatus Clouds

– examples of sinking air

- harmless, but often seen after thunderstorms have passed.

Pileus – smooth clouds capping over mountain tops

OROGRAPHIC CLOUDclouds that develop in response to the forced lifting of air by the earth's topography

Vertically Developed Clouds

- Arise usually from swelling Cumulus

- Grow to heights of over 39,000 feet by thermal convection of frontal lifting

- Incredible amounts of energy

Cumulo-nimbus

-Towering Cloud

WEATHER:-Fast building / Squall line

- Heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning, hail & tornadoes

- Often with “anvil head”

Number your paper 1 to 20

IDENTIFICATION

CIRRO- High level

ALTO- Middle Level

Low Level

Vertically Developing Clouds

Miscellaneous Types

LATIN ROOTSCirrus - Curl of hair

- Wispy fibers or Feathery

nimbus - Rain

stratus -Sheets or layers- no individual clouds

cumulus -Globular individual clouds

- Puffy / cauliflower like

Remember the cloud classification

1

2

3

45

67

8

9

10

1.

3.

2.

4. 5.

6. 7.

10.

8.

9.

1

2

3

45

67

8

9

10

1. Cirrus

3. Cirrostratus

2. Cirrocumulus

4. Altocumulus5. Altostratus

6. Nimbostratus7. Stratus

10. Stratocumulus

8. Cumulus

9. Cumulonimbus

Stratocumulus

Cirrus

CHOICES: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, alto cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus

Cumulus

Cumulo-nimbus

CHOICES: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, alto cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus

Cirrostratus

Altostratus

CHOICES: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, alto cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus

Cirrocumulus

Altocumulus

CHOICES: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, alto cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus

www.weatherpictures.nl/ stratus.html

Stratus

Nimbostratus

CHOICES: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, alto cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus

http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/webweather/cirrus.html

http://www.wxdude.com/page9.html

Sources

http://www.ems.psu.edu/~lno/Meteo437/atlas.html

www.geografforbundet.dk/ vejret/kikop.htm

www.mmem.spschools.org/. ../altostratus.html

web.ukonline.co.uk/.../ Cloud%20formations.htm

meteonew.free.fr/ nuages/altocumulus.htm

Cloud Pictures