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Clouds

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3 views

Clouds

Uploaded by

arijandino
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Clouds

• Clouds form when air cools to dew point and vapour condenses into water droplets and/or ice
crystal. There are many different types of clouds, but they are often difficult to distinguish as
their form constantly changes.
• The general classification of clouds was proposed by Luke Howard in 1803.
• His descriptive classification was based on cloud shape and height. He used four Latin words:
1. Cirrus (a lock of curly hair)
2. Cumulus (a heap of pile)
3. Stratus (a layer)
4. Nimbus (rain-bearing)

• He also compiled composite names using these four terms, such as cumulo-nimbus,
cirrostratus; and added the prefix “alto” for middle-level clouds.
1. Cirrus (ice crystals) - Ci

• Height clouds – 11-13 km


• Deteched, wispy, delicate white clouds.
May have feathery filaments, known as
“mares tails”, indicating strong upper-
atmosphere winds
• No precipitation
• Through them, the sun's radiation reaches
directly to the surface of the earth
• They can predict change of the weather in
the time of 15-30 hours
2. Cirroclumulus (ice crystals) - Cc

• Height clouds – 7-9 km


• Thin layers of small, globular masses
with a rippled appearance (also known
as “mackerel sky”)
• No precipitation
• Through them we can see the Sun and
the Moon.

• In this cloud, temperature is pretty low,


lower then -40 °C.
3. Cirrostratus (ice crystals + halo) - Cs

• Height clouds – 7-9 km


• A thin, milky layer appearing like
a veil. The sun or moon may
shine through it with a halo
effect.
• No precipitation
4. Altocumulus (water droplets and some ice
crystals) - Ac

• Middle clouds – height 3-6 km


• White-grey cloud usually resembling
waves or lumps, seperated by patches of
blue sky.
• The sun or moon may be surrounded by a
corona
• Very occasional, small amounts of
precipitation
5. Altostratus (water droplets and some ice
crystals) - As

• Middle clouds – height 3-6 km


• A greyish, uniform sheet of
clouds, largely featureless. A
“watery” sun may just be visible.
• Very occasional, small amounts of
precipitation.
6. Stratus (water droplets) - St

• Low clouds – height - ground level-2 km


• A persistent, grey, uniform sheet of cloud
• Drizzle
• They are often called fog
• Most often occurs by radiating the earth’s
surface or by advection of cold air on the side
7. Nimbostratus (water droplets) - Ns

• Low clouds – height – ground level-2


km
• A thick, dark grey-black cloud, usually
uniform but may have detached,
darker patches beneath it.
• Continuous rain/snow
• Through them we can’t see the Sun.
• Usually they can change their shape
• Rainfall usually begins with the tunder
from them
8. Stratocumulus (water droplets) - Sc

• Low clouds – height – ground level-2 km


• A grey-white, patchy cloud appearing in long
rows or in rolls
• Occasional showers
• Look like the altocumulus but the
stratocumulus are lower
9. Cumulus (water droplets) - Cu

• Middle clouds – height – 3-6 km


• Detached, white cloud with a pronounced
base and sharp outlines;
• Grows vertically and may resemble a
cauliflower
• Very scattered showers
10. Cumulo-nimbus (water droplets and ice
crystals) - Cb

• Height clouds – 10-12 km


• An extreme vertical extension of the
cumulus.
• It may develop an “anvil” at its head (ice
crystals) and may become black at its
base.
• Heavy showers; thunderstorms; hail

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