Types of Cloud
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Altocumulus The small, white, puffy clouds that sometimes slowly drift across the sky can look like dozens, of small, loose cottonballs. This is Altocumulus and it forms between 8,00018,000 ft (2.5-5.5 km). Altocumulus can develop in several ways. Moist air is cooled by turbulence, then lifted up slightly and cooled to form a layer of cloud at that height. Altocumulus usually forms in a layer of moist air, where air currents undulate gently, like waves on the sea. As a wave rises, water vapour condenses, and there is cloud. In the wave troughs, water evaporates. There the cloud is thinner or the sky may be clear, producing the bands of cloud that are sometimes seen.
Altostratus A warm front has a much shallower slope than the cold front overtaking it, so the warm, stable air behind it is lifted quite slowly over the colder air. At about 6,50016,500 ft (2-5 km) an altostratus may form from water droplets, which may be below freezing temperature, or supercooled. From the ground this altostratus looks white or slightly blue and watery. It may form a continuous sheet, as in the picture on the left, or look as though it is made from soft fibers. Altostratus is light, and the sun is often visible through it, although the cloud may also be thick enough to hide the sun. Rain or snow may fall. Altostratus may not cover the whole sky, but it frequently does. Clouds of other types may be visible at its edges or beneath it.
cirrus clouds.
Cirrus clouds are the highest clouds. They usually mean fair weather. They look white and feathery.
Cumulonimbus clouds are thunderstorm clouds that form if cumulus congestus clouds continue to grow vertically. Their dark bases may be no more than 300 m (1000 ft) above the Earth's surface. Their tops may extend upward to over 12,000 m (39,000 ft). Tremendous amounts of energy are released by the condensation of water vapor within a cumulonimbus. Lightning, thunder, and even violent tornadoes are associated with the cumulonimbus.
Stratus clouds are the low clouds. Fog is a stratus cloud at ground level. They look like a low gray blanket. Stratus clouds bring rain or snow.
Altostratus A warm front has a much shallower slope than the cold front overtaking it, so the warm, stable air behind it is lifted quite slowly over the colder air. At about 6,50016,500 ft (2-5 km) an altostratus may form from water droplets, which may be below freezing temperature, or supercooled. From the ground this altostratus looks white or slightly blue and watery. It may form a continuous sheet, as in the picture on the left, or look as though it is made from soft fibers. Altostratus is light, and the sun is often visible through it, although the cloud may also be thick enough to hide the sun. Rain or snow may fall. Altostratus may not cover the whole sky, but it frequently does. Clouds of other types may be visible at its edges or beneath it.
cirrus clouds.
Cirrus clouds are the highest clouds. They usually mean fair weather. They look white and feathery.
Cumulonimbus clouds are thunderstorm clouds that form if cumulus congestus clouds continue to grow vertically. Their dark bases may be no more than 300 m (1000 ft) above the Earth's surface. Their tops may extend upward to over 12,000 m (39,000 ft). Tremendous amounts of energy are released by the condensation of water vapor within a cumulonimbus. Lightning, thunder, and even violent tornadoes are associated with the cumulonimbus.
Stratus clouds are the low clouds. Fog is a stratus cloud at ground level. They look like a low gray blanket. Stratus clouds bring rain or snow.
