Learn these 10 cloud types and names and be able to describe them in your own words. [cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altstratus, altocumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus]

Root wordsCirro highAlto middle

Root wordsCummulo puffy or clouds with vertical structureStratus –sheet like (uniform layer)Nimbo - associated with precipitation

Cirocumulus clouds are often referred to as a mackerel (fish) sky.

Cirrocumulus: high puffy clouds

Gordo's cloud gallery (cirrus clouds or mares tails)All photos and text Copyright © 1998-2001 Gordon Richardson

Cirrus (whispy)

Cirrostratus are a uniform layer of ice particle and often have a halo around the moon or sun.

Cirrostratus (Halo)

Gordo's cloud galleryAll photos and text Copyright © 1998-2001 Gordon Richardson

Cirrostratus (Halo)

http://www.amtsgym-sdbg.dk/as/halo/

SunDogs

AltocummulusMiddle puffy clouds

AltostratusDim view of sun

StratusLike high fog

stratocummulusLayer of low puffy clouds

NimostratusLow level uniform rainy cloud

Scud: little disconnected clouds

Fair weather cummulusEasy to confuse with stratocummulus

Cumulus congestus

cumulonimbusThunderhead

Banner cloud

Gordo's cloud galleryAll photos and text Copyright © 1998-2001 Gordon Richardson

Lenticular clouds Lens shaped

http://www.crystalinks.com/lenticular.html

My Fuji

Lenticular CloudsMt. Rainer

Mammatus CloudsBag like

http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/nebraska/june2004hastings-mammatus.html

Mammatus Clouds

Aircraft concentration vapor trailContrail. When the upper atmosphere is dry they disappear fairly fast; when it’s humid they persist for some time.

Make observations of sky cover directly upward to get correct reading.

Height to cloud base estimated with a laser ceilometer.