Cumulus clouds (lat. Cumulus) are individually located, dense clouds with sharp outlines, developing vertically, and having white cumulus or dome-shaped tops and flat darker (bluish or grayish) bases. With strong gusts of wind, the edges of the clouds are often torn.

Are formed Cumulus clouds in the lower and partially in the middle troposphere with the development of convection in cooled air masses, as well as in the warm season in air masses over warmed land. The height of the lower boundary line of cumulus clouds is strongly influenced by the humidity of surface air; in humid air masses the height ranges from 800 to 1.5 km, and in dry air masses (deserts and steppes) - from 2000 to 4000 m. The vertical extent of clouds varies from hundreds meters to thousands of meters. Cumulus clouds are located in the sky both as individual rare clouds and in significant clusters, covering almost the entire sky. Scattered cumulus clouds are scattered randomly across the sky, but can form chains or ridges, with their bases located at the same level. Cumulus clouds consist of water droplets throughout their entire thickness, which are larger at the top of the cloud and smaller at the base. At temperatures below zero degrees, the droplets are in a supercooled state. The central part of cumulus clouds completely covers the sun, but the edges are still visible. There is usually no precipitation. In temperate latitudes, isolated large drops of rain may occasionally fall, and occasional short-term sparse rain may occur.

Types of cumulus clouds

Cumulus clouds are divided into four types:

1. Flat (as if flattened) - the most variable clouds, quite dense, with clear horizontal bases and little vertical development.

2. Medium- dense clouds, with clear contours and tops of tangles, with moderate vertical development.

3. Powerful- with pronounced vertical development, often in the form of high towers with multiple projections.

4. Torn- small clouds with torn edges and rapidly changing outlines.

Flat, middle and broken types of clouds are colloidal-stable clouds that do not form precipitation. Powerful cumulus clouds produce light to moderate precipitation, especially in the tropics.
The process of development of cumulus clouds occurs during the transition from flat or broken clouds to medium and powerful clouds, and the final phase can be cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds always produce precipitation in the form of heavy downpours, sometimes with hail, and are considered thunderclouds. These clouds almost always contain ice crystals and liquid water, causing powerful electrical phenomena.

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We talked about cirrus, it's time to move on to the description of cumulus and stratus clouds. As mentioned, not all clouds are important when forecasting sailing weather. Cirrus are long-range indicators and imply a quick change in conditions. Cumulus clouds typically involve an unstable mass of air—warm air rising and mixing with cooler air. These clouds can develop into cumulonimbus or thunderstorms. Large cumulus clouds are the most important cloud type for yachting weather forecasts because they can cause wind shear, sudden squalls and require the utmost respect.

Altocumulus (Ac)

Description of clouds: altocumulus (Ac) - typical cloudiness for the warm season. It is located, as a rule, above the slopes facing the sun. Sometimes they reach the stage of powerful cumulus clouds.

Lenticular altocumulus clouds - Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac lent)

Description of clouds: lenticular altocumulus clouds - Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac lent) - individual rather dense clouds of a lenticular or cigar shape with smooth outlines and a wavy border. They are formed at an altitude of 2-6 km. Precipitation can fall in the form of individual drops or snowflakes. Unlike cirrocumulus clouds, they can have shadowed parts, which typically consist of water droplets.
They arise due to wave movements of air at high-lying boundaries of inversions, in particular before cold fronts or occlusion fronts.

Translucent altocumulus clouds - Altocumulus translucidus (Ac trans)

Description of clouds: translucent high cumulus clouds - Altocumulus translucidus (Ac trans) usually consist of sharply demarcated elements (waves, plates), characterized by heterogeneous density. Dense areas of gray color alternate with thin, more illuminated parts of transparent white color. In thin parts, celestial bodies or blue skies may appear through cumulus clouds. They are formed at an altitude of 2-6 km. Precipitation can fall in the form of individual drops or snowflakes.
Ac trans usually occurs as a result of the rise of warm air masses, as well as the arrival of a cold front that displaces warm air upward. Therefore, the presence of Ac trans on a warm and humid summer morning often foreshadows the imminent appearance of thunderclouds or a change in weather.

Non-transparent highly stratus clouds - Altostratus opacus (As op)

Description of clouds: opaque highly stratified clouds - Altostratus opacus (As op) are a uniform cover of gray color, often of variable density, which is noted by the degree of their illumination (in some places the clouds are darker, in others lighter). The sun and moon do not shine through these stratus clouds, but their location can be determined by a vague light spot on the clouds. They are formed at an altitude of 3-5 km in the form of a veil of light gray or bluish color, in which stripes or fibers can be distinguished. They almost always replace cirrostratus clouds.
Most often they occur during the descent and compaction of cirrostratus clouds. They are composed of small droplets of water, but the top of these stratus clouds can reach the upper tier and consist of ice crystals. In this case, ice crystals falling into the main mass of the stratus cloud act as condensation nuclei and cause precipitation. But in the middle and southern latitudes, precipitation, as a rule, does not reach the ground due to evaporation. In winter, snow comes from these stratus clouds.
As op, cover large spaces; as they descend, their bases become denser, and small dark patches appear underneath them.

Altocumulus floccus (Ac fl)

Description of clouds: flocculus altocumulus clouds - Altocumulus floccus (Ac fl) - are white flakes of cumulus clouds torn at the edges, changing their shape relatively quickly. Formed at an altitude of 2-6 km due to convective movement air in a layer above 2 km. Precipitation can fall in the form of individual drops or snowflakes. Unlike cirrocumulus clouds, they can have shadowed parts, which typically consist of water droplets.
Altocumulus clouds usually occur as a result of rising warm air masses, as well as the arrival of a cold front that pushes warm air upward. Therefore, the presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning often heralds the imminent appearance of thunderclouds or a change in weather.

Translucent high stratus clouds - Altostratus translucidus (As trans)

Description of clouds: translucent highly stratified clouds - Altostratus translucidus (As trans). The wavy structure of the stratus cloud is noticeable, the solar circle of the sun is clearly visible. Quite visible shadows can sometimes appear on the ground. The stripes are clearly visible. A blanket of stratus clouds usually gradually covers the entire sky. The height of the base is within 3-5 km, the thickness of stratus clouds Ac trans is on average about 1 km, occasionally up to 2 km. Precipitation falls, but in the southern and middle latitudes in summer it rarely reaches the ground.

Orographic high stratus clouds and nimbostratus clouds - Altostratus and Nimbostratus (As and Ns)

Description of clouds: Orographic stratus and nimbostratus clouds - Altostratus and Nimbostratus (As and Ns) form on the windward slopes of mountain ranges. If a powerful stream of moist air flows onto the mountains, then cloud formation occurs mainly on their windward slopes. The clouds initially take the form of highly stratus clouds and then grow upward to greater heights. The horizontal and oblique visibility range in stratus clouds changes rapidly.

Daytime stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus diurnalis (Sc diur)

Description of clouds: Daytime stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus diurnalis (Sc diur) are formed from cumulus clouds as they spread. Spreading occurs not in the middle, but in the lower tier (under the inversion boundary, located quite low). In the initial stage of formation, their connection with Cu is clearly visible, the individual peaks of which protrude from the Sc layer. It is conventionally accepted that the apparent size of the elements of stratocumulus clouds exceeds ten times the diameter of the sun. Stratocumulus clouds are formed due to wave movements in inversion layers located below 2 km on the earth's surface.

Spreading evening stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus vesperalis (Sc vesp)

Description of clouds: spreading evening stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus vesperalis (Sc vesp) occur in the evening with the usual spreading of cumulus clouds due to the weakening of upward air movements (convection). They have the appearance of flat elongated ridges of stratocumulus clouds, formed when the tops of cumulus clouds settle and their bases spread. They consist of drops, at negative temperatures - from supercooled drops or from a mixture of them with crystals and snowflakes.

Translucent stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus translucidus (Sc trans)

Description of clouds: translucent stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus translucidus (Sc trans) gray clouds consisting of large ridges (waves) of plates or blocks separated by gaps. In between, the upper layer of translucent stratocumulus clouds or blue sky is visible. The height of the base is within 0.5, -1, 5 km. The layer thickness is from 200 to 800 meters. They consist of drops, at negative temperatures from supercooled drops or from a mixture of them with crystals and snowflakes. In most cases there is no precipitation.

Flat cumulus clouds Cumulus humulus (Cu hum)

Description of clouds: flat cumulus clouds Cumulus humulus (Cu hum) - scattered across the sky, rather dense cumulus clouds with clear horizontal bases, little developed vertically. They are observed mainly in the warm season. They usually appear in the morning, reach their greatest development around midday and spread out in the evening, turning into stratocumulus evening clouds. Occasionally observed in temperate latitudes in winter. The presence of flat cumulus clouds (Cu hum) indicates good weather conditions and are called "fair weather clouds"

Foggy stratus clouds - Stratus nebulosus (St neb)

Description of clouds: foggy stratus clouds - Stratus nebulosus (St neb). A completely uniform layer of gray or yellowish color, similar to fog raised above the surface of the earth. Usually, foggy stratus clouds cover the entire sky. The base height is within 0.1 to 0.7 km, but sometimes the clouds merge with ground fog. Sometimes drizzle or small snow grains (fine snow) may fall from the clouds, which significantly reduces visibility. They are formed, as a rule, due to the cooling of relatively warm air as it moves over a cold underlying surface, or during radiation cooling of the lower layer of air during the night or several days in a row.

Broken rain - Fractonimbus (Frnb)

Description of clouds: ragged rain - Fractonimbus (Frnb) dark gray clouds, sometimes with a yellowish or bluish tint. During precipitation, the layer of clouds seems homogeneous; during the interval between precipitation, its heterogeneity and even its waviness are noticeable. Clouds cover the entire sky without any gaps. The height of the base is from 0.1 km to 1 km. The thickness of the base varies between 2-3 km, but sometimes reaches 5 km. The sun and moon do not shine through Frnb and their location cannot even be approximately noted. Precipitation falls in the form of continuous rain or snow, sometimes intermittently.
The main process of Frnb formation is the cooling of air during its upward movement along an inclined frontal surface near the front.

Fog

Fog. A collection of condensation products (droplets or crystals, or both) suspended in the air directly above the surface of the earth. Occurs as a result of the movement of an air mass to a colder underlying surface.

Dense stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus opacus (Sc op)

Description of clouds: dense stratocumulus clouds - Stratocumulus opacus (Sc op) is a layer of dark gray clouds consisting of merging blocks or plates. Dense stratocumulus clouds persist as long as their lower surface is sufficiently distinct and ridges, ridges, or individual plates can be distinguished on it. When the cloud elements merge completely and the layer becomes homogeneous, the clouds become nimbostratus Ns or stratus. Stratocumulus clouds (Sc op) form in most cases within homogeneous air masses. The height of the base is within 0.5-1.5 km. The thickness of the layer is from 0.2 to 0.8 km. Through (Sc op) the sky is not visible, with this form of cloudiness it is impossible to determine the location of the sun or moon. Precipitation may fall in the form of rain or occasional snow.

Wavy stratus clouds - Stratus undulatus (St und)

Description of clouds: wavy stratus clouds - Stratus undulatus (St und), a uniform gray or yellowish-gray layer of stratus clouds, on the lower surface of which faint waves can be distinguished. These waves, due to their long length and low location, are sometimes noticeable only in the form of a regular alternation of darker and lighter places. The height of the base is usually in the range of 0.2-0.7 km. The sun and moon do not shine through the clouds. Wavy stratus clouds are made up of droplets, with low temperatures- hypothermic.
Drizzle or small snow grains may fall from the clouds, which will noticeably impair visibility. They are formed predominantly within a homogeneous air mass. Wavy stratus clouds are formed mainly due to the cooling of relatively warm air as it moves over a cold underlying surface or due to radiative cooling of the lower layer of air during the night or several days in a row. One of the reasons for the formation of wavy stratus clouds may be the transfer of water vapor by turbulent movements upward into the subinversion layer and the condensation of excess vapor in the upper part of the layer. Diffusion of water vapor into the subinversion layer on top of their warm air mass is also possible if it is more humid than the lower layer of air. Of great importance for formation is the presence of a temperature inversion layer located at a small height above the earth's surface.

Powerful cumulus clouds - Cumulus congestus (Cu cong)

Description of clouds: powerful cumulus clouds - Cumulus congestus (Cu cong) clouds that are highly developed vertically. Some of them are partially torn, shaggy, in the form of towers tilted to the side. The thickness is 1.5 - 2 times greater than the base of a cumulus cloud. The top of the cumulus cloud is dazzlingly white, swirling, the base is darkened. In the central part, powerful cumulus clouds completely cover the sun, while the edges shine through, and crowns often form. There is usually no precipitation. They are formed mainly as a result of powerful upward air currents caused by uneven heating of the underlying surface. The development of Cu cong in summer leads to the development of cumulonimbus clouds and heavy rainfall.

Middle cumulus clouds - Cumuluc mediocris (Cu med)

Description of clouds: medium cumulus clouds - Cumuluc mediocris (Cu med), having the appearance of isolated cloud masses, white piles with a gray flat base and white tops resembling cauliflower. The vertical dimensions of medium cumulus clouds are comparable to the horizontal ones. The height of the base in temperate latitudes is usually from 0.8 to 1.5 km. However, it can fluctuate within significant limits, depending on the relative humidity values ​​at the earth's surface. Vertical length from hundreds of meters to several kilometers. They are usually formed due to temperature convection or frontal rise. They are intermediate between Cu hum and Cu cong. Precipitation does not usually fall from middle cumulus clouds. In temperate latitudes, isolated drops of rain, or very short-term rare rain, can fall from Cu med (sometimes during the time the raindrops fall to the ground, the clouds from which they fell, the precipitation has already dissipated. Such rain is called “rain from a clear sky”

Cumulonimbus (Cb)

Cloud Description: Cumulonimbus (Cb), white clouds with dark, sometimes bluish bases, rising as huge cloud masses with tops. They are often observed in the form of individual clouds, but they can also be clusters. The entire sky is not covered; there may be gaps between individual clouds. The height of the base ranges from 0.4 to 1.0 km, the vertical extent is usually up to 3-4 km, but can develop up to the tropopause. Precipitation always has a stormy storm character: in summer it falls in the form of large drops of rain or hail, in spring and autumn in the form of ice or snow pellets, and in winter in the form of shower snow, some of it wet. Thunderstorms are common with Cb. The clouds usually form as a result of the development of powerful cumulus clouds Cu cong. Beneath the clouds there are usually streaks of falling precipitation and, in some cases, rainbows.

This concludes the description of the clouds. I hope this information will help you navigate a huge number various types clouds and will increase the accuracy of your weather forecasts at sea. Which will ultimately make your yachting safer and more comfortable.

Everyone has seen clouds. They can be large and small, almost transparent and very thick, white or dark, pre-storm. Taking different shapes, they resemble animals and objects. But why do they look like that? We'll talk about this below.

What is a cloud

Anyone who has flown an airplane has probably “passed” through a cloud and noticed that it looks like fog, only it is not directly above the ground, but high in the sky. The comparison is quite logical, because both are ordinary steam. And it, in turn, consists of microscopic droplets of water. Where do they come from?

This water rises into the air as a result of evaporation from the surface of the earth and water bodies. Therefore, the greatest accumulation of clouds is observed over the seas. Over the course of a year, about 400 thousand cubic kilometers evaporate from their surface, which is 4 times higher than that of land.

What are they? It all depends on the state of the water that forms them. It can be gaseous, liquid or solid. It may seem surprising, but some clouds are actually made of ice.

We have already found out that clouds are formed as a result of the accumulation of large quantities particles of water. But to complete the process, a connecting link is needed to which the drops will “stick” and gather together. Often this role is played by dust, smoke or salt.

Classification

The altitude of the location largely determines what the clouds are formed from and what they will look like. As a rule, the white masses that we are used to seeing in the sky appear in the troposphere. Its upper limit varies depending on geographical location. The closer the area is to the equator, the higher standard clouds can form. For example, over an area with a tropical climate, the boundary of the troposphere is located at an altitude of approximately 18 km, and above the Arctic Circle - 10 km.

Cloud formation is also possible at high altitudes, but they are currently poorly studied. For example, pearlescent ones appear in the stratosphere, and silvery ones appear in the mesosphere.

Tropospheric clouds are conventionally divided into types depending on the altitude at which they are located - in the upper, middle or lower tier of the troposphere. Air movement also has a big influence on cloud formation. In calm environments, cirrus and stratus clouds form, but if the troposphere moves unevenly, the likelihood of cumulus clouds increases.

Upper tier

This gap covers a section of the sky at an altitude of more than 6 km and to the edge of the troposphere. Considering that the air temperature here does not rise above 0 degrees, it is easy to guess what clouds in the upper tier are formed from. It can only be ice.

By appearance The clouds located here are divided into 3 types:

1. Cirrus. They have a wavy structure and can look like individual threads, stripes or entire ridges.
2. Cirrocumulus consist of small balls, curls or flakes.
3. Cirrostratus They represent a translucent semblance of fabric “covering” the sky. These types of clouds can stretch across the entire sky or occupy only a small area.

The height of the cloud in the upper tier can vary greatly depending on various factors. It can be several hundred meters or tens of kilometers.

Middle and lower tier

The middle layer is a part of the troposphere, usually located between 2 and 6 km. Altocumulus clouds are found here, which are voluminous gray or white masses. They consist of water in the warm season and, accordingly, ice in the cold season. The second type of cloud is altostratus. They have and often completely cover the sky. Such clouds carry precipitation in the form of drizzle or light snow, but they rarely reach the surface of the earth.

The lower tier represents the sky directly above us. Clouds here can be of 4 types:

1. Stratocumulus in the form of blocks or shafts of gray color. Precipitation may occur unless temperatures are too low.
2. Layered. They are located below all the others and are gray in color.
3. Nimbostratus. As can be understood by the name, they carry precipitation, and, as a rule, they are of a blanket nature. These are gray clouds that do not have a specific shape.
4. Cumulus. Some of the most recognizable clouds. They look like powerful heaps and clubs with an almost flat base. Such clouds do not bring precipitation.

There is one more species that is not included in the general list. These are cumulonimbus clouds. They develop vertically and are present in each of the three tiers. Such clouds bring showers, thunderstorms and hail, so they are often called thunderstorms or showers.

Cloud Lifespan

For those who know what clouds are formed from, the question of their lifespan may also be interesting. Here great importance plays a role in humidity levels. It is a kind of source of vitality for the clouds. If the air in the troposphere is dry enough, the cloud will not last long. If the humidity is high, it can float in the sky longer until it becomes more powerful to produce precipitation.

As for the shape of the cloud, its lifespan is very short. Water particles tend to constantly move, evaporate and appear again. Therefore, the same cloud shape cannot be maintained even for 5 minutes.

Clouds are a collection of water droplets and ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, located at some height above the earth's surface. Clouds form as a result of an increase in the total moisture content, a decrease in air temperature, or the condensation of water vapor below the dew point. The following factors lead to a decrease in air temperature and cloud formation in the atmosphere:

- rise (upward movements) of air and advection;

- radiation and turbulent mixing (vertical and horizontal).

But this is not enough; there must be condensation (or sublimation) nuclei in the air, on which water or ice begins to precipitate. Condensation nuclei in marine areas can be salt particles released into the air along with water dust and splashes during storms; on land they are microscopic particles of dust and smoke.

Clouds are carried by air currents. If the relative humidity in the air containing the clouds decreases, the clouds evaporate. Under certain conditions, some cloud elements become larger and heavier so that they fall out of the cloud in the form of precipitation.

Individual clouds exist very a short time. For example, the lifetime of an individual cumulus cloud is sometimes only 10-15 minutes. But even the long existence of a cloud does not mean that it is in an unchanged state. In reality, cloud elements are constantly evaporating and re-emerging. There is a certain process of cloud formation for a long time; the cloud is only the currently visible part of the total mass of water involved in this process. The appearance of clouds is also deceptive. If a cloud does not change its height, this does not mean that its constituent elements do not fall out. Drops in a cloud can descend, but when they reach the bottom of the cloud, they move into unsaturated air and evaporate.

According to the phase state of cloud elements, clouds are divided into three classes:

· Water (drip) clouds consisting only of water droplets. They can exist not only at positive air temperatures, but also at negative ones (-10°C and below). In this case, the drops are in a supercooled state.

· Mixed clouds, consisting of a mixture of supercooled water droplets and ice crystals. They can exist, as a rule, at air temperatures from -10 to -40°C.

· Ice (crystalline) clouds consisting only of ice crystals. They prevail, as a rule, at air temperatures below -30°C.

The shapes of clouds in the troposphere are very diverse. In the modern version of the international classification, clouds are divided into ten main forms according to their appearance: cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus, altocumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, stratus, nimbostratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus.

In addition, clouds are classified by height:

· Upper clouds- the highest clouds in the troposphere, form at an altitude of over 6 kilometers, at the lowest temperatures and consist of ice crystals. These clouds are white, translucent and offer little shade from sunlight. These include: cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus clouds.

· Mid-level clouds- altocumulus and altostratus clouds form at an altitude of 2-6 kilometers. Altocumulus clouds are cloud layers or ridges of white or gray color, consisting of supercooled droplets. Quite thin clouds, more or less obscuring the sun. Altostratus clouds are light, milky-gray cloud cover of varying densities that covers the sky in whole or in part.

· Low clouds- stratocumulus (ridges or layers of gray or whitish clouds), stratus (a uniform gray layer) and nimbostratus clouds, form at altitudes below 2 kilometers. These clouds consist of small homogeneous drops. At sufficiently low negative temperatures, solid elements (ice crystals, snow grains, etc.) appear in the clouds. The solar disk, shining through the stratus clouds, has clear outlines.

· Clouds of vertical development- cumulus and cumulonimbus, are formed when warm air slowly rises above the ground. Cumulus clouds are dense, individual clouds with sharply defined contours, developing upward in the form of hills, domes and towers. They consist of water droplets (no crystals). Cumulonimbus forms as a result of the further development of cumulus clouds. These are powerful cumulus-shaped masses, very strongly developed vertically in the form of mountains and towers. Cumulonimbus clouds consist of ice crystals at the top and crystals and droplets in the middle. different sizes, up to large ones. By blocking the sun, they greatly reduce illumination.

From the surface of the Earth, all clouds appear to be at approximately the same height. However, there can be huge distances between them, equal to several kilometers. But what are the highest and lowest of them? This post has all the information you need to become a cloud expert!

10. Stratus clouds (average height - 300-450 m)

Wikipedia information: Stratus clouds are low-level clouds characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform layer, in contrast to cumuliform clouds, which are formed by rising warm currents.

More specifically, the term "stratus" is used to describe flat, misty clouds at the bottom, ranging in color from dark gray to almost white.

9. Cumulus clouds (average height - 450-2000 m)


Wikipedia information: "Cumulus" is Latin for "heap, heap." Cumulus clouds are often described as "plump", "cotton-like" or "fluffy" in appearance and have a flat base.

As low level clouds, they are usually less than 1000 meters in height unless they are a more vertical form of cumulus cloud. Cumulus clouds can appear alone, in lines, or in clusters.

8. Stratocumulus clouds (average height - 450-2000 m)


Wikipedia information: Stratocumulus clouds are a type of cloud characterized by large, dark, round masses, usually in the form of groups, lines or waves, the individual elements of which are larger than those of altocumulus clouds, forming at a lower altitude, usually below 2400 meters .

Weak convective air currents create shallow layers of clouds due to the drier, still air above them, preventing their further vertical development.

7. Cumulonimbus clouds (average height - 450-2000 m)


Wikipedia information: Cumulonimbus clouds are dense, towering vertical clouds associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, formed from water vapor carried by powerful updrafts.

Cumulonimbus clouds can form alone, in clusters, or as a squall along a cold front. These clouds are capable of producing lightning and other severe hazards. weather, such as tornadoes.

6. Nimbostratus clouds (average height - 900-3000 m)


Wikipedia information: Nimbostratus clouds usually produce precipitation over a large area. They have a diffuse base, usually located somewhere near the surface at the lower levels and at an altitude of about 3000 meters at the middle levels.

Although nimbostratus clouds are usually dark in color at the base, they are often illuminated from within when viewed from the Earth's surface.

5. Altostratus clouds (average height - 2000-7000 m)


Wikipedia information: Altostratus clouds are a type of mid-level cloud belonging to the stratiform physical category, which is characterized by a generally uniform layer whose color varies from gray to bluish-green.

They are lighter than nimbostratus clouds and darker than tall cirrostratus clouds. The Sun can be seen through thin altostratus clouds, but thicker clouds may have a denser, opaque structure.

4. Altocumulus clouds (average height - 2000-7000 m)


Wikipedia information: Altocumulus clouds are a type of mid-level cloud that belongs primarily to the stratocumulus physical category, characterized by spherical masses or ridges in layers or sheets, the individual elements of which are larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus clouds, and smaller. than that of stratocumulus clouds.

However, if the layers become flocculent due to increased instability of the air mass, then altocumulus clouds become more cumuliform in structure.

3. Cirrus clouds (average height - 5000-13,500 m)


Wikipedia information: Cirrus clouds are a type of atmospheric cloud typically characterized by thin, thread-like filaments.

Cloud filaments sometimes form into tufts of characteristic shapes known collectively as “mare’s tails.” Cirrus clouds are usually white or light gray in color.

2. Cirrostratus clouds ( average level- 5000-13.500 m)


Wikipedia information: Cirrostratus clouds are a type of thin, whitish stratus clouds composed of ice crystals. They are difficult to detect and are capable of forming a halo when they take the form of a thin cirrostratus cloud.

1. Cirrocumulus clouds (average height - 5000-13,500 m)


Wikipedia information: Cirrocumulus clouds are one of the three main types of upper-level tropospheric clouds (the other two are cirrus and cirrostratus clouds). Like lower-level cumulus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds signify convection.

Unlike other tall cirrus and cirrostratus, cirrocumulus consists of a small number of transparent water droplets, although they are in a supercooled state.