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Types of clouds and how do they look? (Meteorology)

Writer's picture: learnfromhimalearnfromhima

Clouds: An aerosol consisting of a visible mass of minute liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space.



Types of Clouds:

Based on the altitude, clouds are classified into 3 types:-


I) Low-level Clouds - > 6,500 Ft

II) Mid-level Clouds - 6,500 Ft to 20,000 Ft

III) High-level Clods - > 20,000 Ft


I) Low-level Clouds


Nimbostratus Cloud (NS): Rain bearing layer clouds. Generally Grey in colour covers the whole sky, very thick a distinctively diffuse base because of falling rain or snow.


Stratocumulus Cloud (SC): Gray or whitish or both. A layer of relatively small lumps and heaps of the cloud.


Stratus Cloud (ST): The term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds of low altitude. gray or nearly white colour cloud layer with a fairly uniform base which may give drizzle or snow grains. A "Cloudy day" is when the sky covered with stratus clouds.


Cumulus Cloud (CU): Detach clouds generally dense and with sharp outlines. Develops in the forms of mountains, domes, or towers.


Cumulonimbus Cloud (CB): It is a heavy and dense cloud of considerable vertical extent in the form of a mountain or huge tower, often associated with heavy precipitation, lightning, and thunder.



II) Mid-level Clouds


Altocumulus Cloud (AC): Mostly Grey/white in colour. Looks more fluffy. It made up of water droplets with ice crystals. It has lumps, heaps, and roll of the cloud.


Altostratus Cloud (AS): Grayish or bluish Sheet of a fibrous or uniform layer cloud totally or partly covering the sky.



III) High-level Clouds


Cirrus Cloud(CI): Detached clouds in the form of white delicate filaments or narrow bands of clouds with a fibrous or silky appearance. These clouds are composed of ice crystals rather than water droplets.


Cirrocumulus Cloud(CC): Thin, White patches, or layer of clouds without shading, comprising regular elements of smaller ripples and lumps. Consists of ice crystals rather than water particles.


Cirrostratus Cloud(CS): Transparent. Whitish cloud or smooth appearance totally or partially covering the sky.


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