Your Cloud Your Cloud EncyclopediaEncyclopedia

16-2 Notes on 16-2 Notes on CloudsClouds

Cirrus CloudsCirrus Clouds

High, ice-crystal clouds High, ice-crystal clouds

Look like wispy curls of hairLook like wispy curls of hair

Look featheryLook feathery

Often the first signs of approaching Often the first signs of approaching weather changes weather changes

Cirrus Cloud PictureCirrus Cloud Picture

StratusStratus Low cloudsLow clouds

Usually covers whole skyUsually covers whole sky

Gray blankets of clouds which often Gray blankets of clouds which often bring drizzlebring drizzle

Can cover high ground and cause hill Can cover high ground and cause hill fog. fog.

Stratus Cloud Picture

CumulusCumulus Clearly defined puffs of fluffy clouds that Clearly defined puffs of fluffy clouds that

look like "cauliflowers". look like "cauliflowers".

Look like cotton balls.Look like cotton balls.

They appear in sunny, summer skies. They appear in sunny, summer skies.

In the morning, they precede a storm, in the In the morning, they precede a storm, in the afternoon they follow a storm. afternoon they follow a storm.

Cumulus Cloud PictureCumulus Cloud Picture

Cloud HeightCloud Height

Clouds are also described by their Clouds are also described by their heightheight– Cirro = high cloud heightCirro = high cloud height– Alto = middle cloud heightAlto = middle cloud height– Strato = low cloud heightStrato = low cloud height

Cloud HeightCloud Height

CirrosCirros (high) or (high) or CirroCirro can be used with can be used with cumuluscumulus (heap, puffy) to indicate a (heap, puffy) to indicate a cirrocumuluscirrocumulus or high, or high, puffy cloud. It can also be used with puffy cloud. It can also be used with stratus stratus (flat, layered)(flat, layered) as in as in cirrostratuscirrostratus to indicate a to indicate a high, flat or layered cloud.high, flat or layered cloud.

AltoAlto can also be used with can also be used with cumuluscumulus and and stratusstratus to indicate to indicate altocumulusaltocumulus and and altostratusaltostratus which are middle altitude puffy which are middle altitude puffy clouds and middle altitude flat or layered clouds clouds and middle altitude flat or layered clouds respectively. respectively.

CirrocumulusCirrocumulus

Often called a "mackerel sky“Often called a "mackerel sky“ the clouds' ripples of cloud looks like fish scalesthe clouds' ripples of cloud looks like fish scales indicates unsettled weather indicates unsettled weather form above 18,000 feetform above 18,000 feet appear as small, rounded white puffs that are appear as small, rounded white puffs that are

isolated or in long rows. When the white puffs are isolated or in long rows. When the white puffs are in rows, they give the cloud a rippling appearance in rows, they give the cloud a rippling appearance that distinguishes it from a cirrus or a cirrostratus that distinguishes it from a cirrus or a cirrostratus cloud.cloud.

rarely cover the entire skyrarely cover the entire sky

Cirrocumulus Cloud PicturesCirrocumulus Cloud Pictures

CirrostratusCirrostratus

form above 18,000 feet.form above 18,000 feet. Sheets of thin, milk-colored clouds Sheets of thin, milk-colored clouds form high up and often bring rain or snow form high up and often bring rain or snow

within twenty-four hourswithin twenty-four hours They often cause the sun or moon to They often cause the sun or moon to

appear to have a halo around it. appear to have a halo around it. Sometimes these clouds are so thin that the Sometimes these clouds are so thin that the

only clue to their presence is a halo around only clue to their presence is a halo around the sun or moon.the sun or moon.

Cirrostratus Cloud PictureCirrostratus Cloud Picture

Cirrostratus Cloud PictureCirrostratus Cloud Picture

AltostratusAltostratus Layers of thin, gray clouds Layers of thin, gray clouds Can grow into rain clouds Can grow into rain clouds These gray or bluish-gray clouds form between These gray or bluish-gray clouds form between

6,000 and 20,000 feet.6,000 and 20,000 feet. Cover the entire sky over an area that usually Cover the entire sky over an area that usually

extends over hundreds of square kilometers. extends over hundreds of square kilometers. The sun may be visible under thinner sections of the The sun may be visible under thinner sections of the

cloud as a dim, round disk, known as a "watery sun“cloud as a dim, round disk, known as a "watery sun“ Usually form ahead of a storm producing Usually form ahead of a storm producing

widespread and mostly continuous precipitation. widespread and mostly continuous precipitation. Altostratus clouds do not allow enough sunlight to Altostratus clouds do not allow enough sunlight to

break through the cloud to form any shadows on the break through the cloud to form any shadows on the ground. ground.

Altostratus Cloud PictureAltostratus Cloud Picture

Altostratus Cloud PictureAltostratus Cloud Picture

AltocumulusAltocumulus

Fluffy waves of gray cloudsFluffy waves of gray clouds Can bring showers or break up to give sunny periods Can bring showers or break up to give sunny periods These clouds form between 6,000 and 20,000 feet and These clouds form between 6,000 and 20,000 feet and Appear as gray, puffy blobs, sometimes rolled out in Appear as gray, puffy blobs, sometimes rolled out in

parallel waves or bands. parallel waves or bands. One part of the cloud is usually darker than the rest, which One part of the cloud is usually darker than the rest, which

helps distinguish this cloud from the higher cirrocumulus helps distinguish this cloud from the higher cirrocumulus clouds.clouds.

Look like "little castles" in the sky indicate rising air at the Look like "little castles" in the sky indicate rising air at the cloud level. The appearance of these clouds on a warm, cloud level. The appearance of these clouds on a warm, humid humid

Altocumulus Cloud PictureAltocumulus Cloud Picture

Altocumulus Cloud PictureAltocumulus Cloud Picture

StratocumulusStratocumulus Uneven rolls or patches of clouds across Uneven rolls or patches of clouds across

the sky which follow a storm the sky which follow a storm Usually a sign that drier weather is on Usually a sign that drier weather is on

the way. the way. These low, lumpy cloud layers form These low, lumpy cloud layers form

below 6,000 feet below 6,000 feet Can appear in rows, patches or as Can appear in rows, patches or as

rounded masses with blue sky in rounded masses with blue sky in between the cloud elements.between the cloud elements.

Color of stratocumulus clouds can range Color of stratocumulus clouds can range from white to dark gray.from white to dark gray.

Stratocumulus Cloud Stratocumulus Cloud PicturePicture

What’s A Nimbo?What’s A Nimbo?

Nimbo meaning in latin rainNimbo meaning in latin rain

Nimbus clouds are the very dark storm Nimbus clouds are the very dark storm clouds that have precipitation. clouds that have precipitation.

NimbostratusNimbostratus

Thick, dark gray masses of clouds which can bring Thick, dark gray masses of clouds which can bring rain or snow. rain or snow.

These dark gray clouds usually form below 6,000 These dark gray clouds usually form below 6,000 feet. feet.

Are almost always associated with continuous light Are almost always associated with continuous light to moderate precipitation.to moderate precipitation.

Often can last for several hours to more than a Often can last for several hours to more than a day. day.

The sun and moon are not visible through a layer The sun and moon are not visible through a layer of nimbostratus clouds. These clouds usually form of nimbostratus clouds. These clouds usually form in in a stable atmosphere where warm, moist air. atmosphere where warm, moist air.

Nimbostratus Cloud PictureNimbostratus Cloud Picture

Nimbostratus Cloud PictureNimbostratus Cloud Picture

CumulonimbusCumulonimbus

These are towering clouds which usually These are towering clouds which usually bring thunderstorms with rain, snow or hail. bring thunderstorms with rain, snow or hail. 

High winds will flatten the top of the cloud High winds will flatten the top of the cloud into an anvil-like shape. The anvil usually into an anvil-like shape. The anvil usually points in the direction the storm is moving.points in the direction the storm is moving.

Watch for cumulus (puffy) clouds that start Watch for cumulus (puffy) clouds that start to rapidly develop vertically (up) to become to rapidly develop vertically (up) to become cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds. cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds.

Fronts are often called thunderheads.Fronts are often called thunderheads.

Cumulonimbus Cloud PictureCumulonimbus Cloud Picture

Cumulonimbus Cloud PictureCumulonimbus Cloud Picture

Cumulonimbus Cloud PictureCumulonimbus Cloud Picture