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Clouds
Clouds form when air cools to its dew point & water
vapour in the air condenses into water droplets and/or
ice crystals. In 1803 Luke Howard came up with a classification
system using some latin names which is still used.
Basically clouds mean rain which isnt always a bad
thing. Its good for the atmosphere and the hydrological
cycle in general and keeps our biosphere the way it
is. While we get wet we also get water to drink, bath
in, use for cooking etc etc. Also all those plants and
animals get something to drink. Like it or not clouds
aint all that bad really. |
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Cloud Types |
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High level clouds
High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters)
and since the temperatures are so cold at such high
elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice
crystals. High-level clouds are typically thin and white
in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array
of colors when the sun is low on the horizon
Cirrus Clouds
Thin and wispy The most common form of high-level
clouds are thin and often wispy cirrus clouds. Typically
found at heights greater than 20,000 feet (6,000 meters),
cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals that originate
from the freezing of supercooled water droplets. Cirrus
generally occur in fair weather and point in the direction
of air movement at their elevation. |
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Mid-Level Clouds
The bases of mid-level clouds typically appear between
6,500 to 20,000 feet (2,000 to 6,000 meters). Because
of their lower altitudes, they are composed primarily
of water droplets, however, they can also be composed
of ice crystals when temperatures are cold enough.
Altocumulus Clouds
Parallel bands or rounded masses. Photograph by: Holle
Altocumulus may appear as parallel bands (top photograph)
or rounded masses (bottom photograph). Typically a portion
of an altocumulus cloud is shaded, a characteristic
which makes them distinguishable from the high-level
cirrocumulus. Altocumulus clouds usually form by convection
in an unstable layer aloft, which may result from the
gradual lifting of air in advance of a cold front. The
presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer
morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later
in the day. |
Stratocumulus
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Low-level Clouds
Low clouds are of mostly composed of water droplets
since their bases generally lie below 6,500 feet (2,000
meters). However, when temperatures are cold enough,
these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow
Nimbostratus Clouds
Dark, low-level clouds with precipitation. Nimbostratus
are dark, low-level clouds accompanied by light to moderately
falling precipitation. Low clouds are primarily composed
of water droplets since their bases generally lie below
6,500 feet (2,000 meters). However, when temperatures
are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles
and snow. |
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