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clouds
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cumulus | Often called “fair-weather” clouds, cumulus clouds are common over land on sunny days, when the sun heats the land creating thermal convection currents Each thermal is distinct, and, consequently, each cumulus cloud is a distinct puff |
| Cumulonimbus | Ready supply of warm, moist air, which rises at speeds of up to 25-70 mph Tropospheric winds need to increase considerably with height to encourage it to slant forward The atmosphere around the cloud needs to be “unstable” no temp. inversions here |
| Stratus | Stratus clouds are the lowest forming and are often called fog or mists when they are earth-bound Stratus clouds are formed when a large air mass cools at the same time (e.g. – a warm air parcel drifts into or above a cooler region) |
| Stratocumulus | Similar to cumulus clouds in form and composition, stratocumulus clouds are textured and puffy, but also joined into a semi-continuous layer Stratocumulus clouds usually form from cumulus or stratus clouds |
| Altocumulus | Since altocumulus clouds are high in the sky, they are generally above the influence of thermals, and form very differently from cumulus and stratocumulus clouds, who share similar names. |
| Altostratus | Below 6,500 ft. it’s stratus Between 6,500 and 23,000 ft. it’s altostratus Boring! – but being so high up, they do make for nice sunsets. |
| Nimbostratus | The nimbostratus cloud has no species or varieties. It is a thick, wet blanket with a ragged base caused by the continual precipitation |
| Cirrus | Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds although the ice crystals evaporate high above the earth’s surface crystals caught in 100 150 mph winds create wisps cloud |
| Cirrocumulus | Cirrocumulus clouds are usually a transitional phase between cirrus and cirrostratus clouds. Large numbers of cirrocumulus clouds may indicate poor weather is approaching. |
| Cirrostratus | Cirrostratus clouds are difficult to spot and appear as a pale, milky lightening of the sky. Cirrostratus clouds never block out the sun completely, but rather produce a variety of optical effects. |
Created by:
amsemien6
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