Mr. Deakin - CLOUDS terms, naming, and types

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CLOUDSterms, naming, and

types

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CLOUD ALTITUDES Low-level clouds are found

below 2 km Mid-level clouds are situated

from 2 to 6 km high & have an alto_ prefix

High-level clouds are above 6 km in altitude

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CLOUD SHAPES Cumulus clouds are found at

all-levels and have a puffy or billowy appearance

Stratus clouds are featureless, sheet-like clouds

Cirrus is a term for delicate-looking, high altitude clouds made of ice crystals

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Cumulus Clouds

These clouds can befound at any altitude

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Stratus Clouds

Seen from the ground level

As seen from above

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Cirrus Clouds

These clouds have been likened to horse tails

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CLOUD NAMES

Clouds that carry rain or snow have the word nimbus somewhere in their name

Altitude, precipitation, and shape terms are combined to name clouds

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CLOUD TYPES

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Precipitation Clouds

Cumulonimbus clouds are storm clouds which extend high into the atmosphere (up to 20 km)

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Precipitation Clouds

Nimbostratus clouds are grey, unbroken, featureless, rain-containing clouds

Responsible for steady gentle rain

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Altostratus Clouds Featureless

clouds that completely or partially block out the sun

Differ from Nimbostratus clouds in two main ways…

Do not contain the word nimbo

Are found at a higher altitude

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Cirrostratus Clouds

They have a more continuous appearance than the other high altitude clouds

They are composed almost entirely of ice crystals and often blanket large areas of the sky

They are typically so thin that you can easily see the sun or even the moon through them

Halos and other related phenomenon are caused by these clouds

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Halos

Halos occur around the sun or moon Halos are caused by refraction of light by

randomly oriented pyramidal ice crystals

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Altocumulus Clouds

Are detailed, mid-level cumulus clouds

Consist of supercooled and frozen particles

Are usually thin (less than 100m thick)

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Cirrocumulus Clouds

How do these clouds differ from altocumulus clouds?

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Stratocumulus Clouds

Are low-level clouds

Have a distinguishable feature

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Cloud Types Quiz

How many of the 8 clouds can you name?

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Cloud Types Quiz

This picture shows two distinct types of clouds. Can you name each type?

altocumulus

cumulus

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CLOUD TYPES