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Cloud Formation (Lecture 10)

This document discusses cloud types based on shape and altitude. There are three main cloud shapes: stratus clouds which are flat layers, cumulus clouds which are puffy heaps, and cirrus clouds which are feathery wisps. Clouds are also classified based on altitude into low, middle, high, and vertically developing clouds. Low clouds form below 2,000m and include stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus. Middle clouds form between 2,000-6,000m and are prefixed alto-. High clouds form above 6,000m and are prefixed cirro-. Vertically developing clouds like cumulus and cumulonimbus can reach over 12,000m.

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Binthan Ramzeeni
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29 views

Cloud Formation (Lecture 10)

This document discusses cloud types based on shape and altitude. There are three main cloud shapes: stratus clouds which are flat layers, cumulus clouds which are puffy heaps, and cirrus clouds which are feathery wisps. Clouds are also classified based on altitude into low, middle, high, and vertically developing clouds. Low clouds form below 2,000m and include stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus. Middle clouds form between 2,000-6,000m and are prefixed alto-. High clouds form above 6,000m and are prefixed cirro-. Vertically developing clouds like cumulus and cumulonimbus can reach over 12,000m.

Uploaded by

Binthan Ramzeeni
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Basic Climatology

BCE 22012

Types of clouds

1
At the end of this session you will be able to;

1. Identify three cloud shapes.

2. Differentiate types of clouds based on altitude.

2
Three cloud shapes
• The three classes of clouds based on shape are stratus, cumulus,
and cirrus clouds.

• Stratus clouds are thin and flat, and their edges are not clearly
defined.

• Stratus is a Latin word that means “layer.” Stratus clouds often


merge into one another and may look like a single layer that
3
covers the entire sky.
Three cloud shapes
• Cumulus is a Latin word that means “heap.”

• Cumulus clouds are thick and puffy on top and generally flat on
the bottom.

• These clouds have well-defined edges and can change shape


rapidly. They can be bright or dark, and they can produce severe
weather.
4
Three cloud shapes
• Cirrus is a Latin word that means “curl.”

• Cirrus clouds look white and feathery, and their ends curl.

• They are made of ice crystals rather than liquid water droplets.
They do not produce precipitation that reaches Earth’s surface.

5
Types of clouds based on altitude
• The four classes of clouds based on altitude are low clouds,
middle clouds, high clouds, and clouds of vertical development.

• These four classes are made up of 10 cloud types.

• Prefixes are used to name the clouds that belong to some of


these classes.

6
Types of clouds based on altitude
• Low clouds form between Earth’s surface and 2,000 m altitude.
They are commonly made up of water droplets.

• The three types of low clouds are stratus, stratocumulus, and


nimbostratus.

• There is no special prefix for naming low clouds. However,


nimbus means “rain,” so nimbostratus clouds are rain clouds.
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Stratus
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus
Types of clouds based on altitude
• Middle clouds form between 2,000 m and 6,000 m altitude. They
are commonly made up of water droplets, but may be made up
of ice crystals.

• The prefix alto- is used to name middle clouds.

• The two types of middle clouds are altocumulus and altostratus.

11
Altostratus
Altocumulus
Types of clouds based on altitude
• High clouds form above 6,000 m altitude, where air temperature
is below freezing. Therefore, high clouds are made up of ice
crystals.

• The prefix cirro- is used to name high clouds.

• Cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus are the types of high


clouds.
14
Types of clouds based on altitude
• A cloud of vertical development can have its base at low altitude,
but its top can reach higher than 12,000 m.

• The two types of clouds of vertical development are cumulus and


cumulonimbus.

• Cumulonimbus clouds are linked to severe weather and can


produce rain, hail, lightning, tornadoes, and rapidly sinking
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columns of air.
Cirrus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus
Types of clouds based on altitude

19

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