List of cloud types
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
</div>
Contents |
[edit] High-level clouds
[edit] Cirrus
Image:Long Cirrus fibratus.jpg Image:CirrusUncinusUndFloccus.jpg Image:Cirrus vertebratus.JPG Abbreviation: Ci
Cirrus clouds form above 16,500 feet (5,000 m), in the cold region of the troposphere. They are denoted by the prefix cirro- or cirrus. At this altitude water almost always freezes so clouds are composed of ice crystals. The clouds tend to be wispy, and are often transparent. Isolated cirrus clouds often indicate a stable situation and do not bring precipitation, however, large amounts of cirrus can indicate an approaching storm system.
There are several variations of cirrus cloud:
- A series of dense lumps, or "towers" of cirrus, connected by a thinner base.
- Sheets of cirrus at different layers of the atmosphere, which may be connected at one or more points.
- Cirrus clouds having the traditional "mare's tail" appearance. These clouds are long, fibrous, and curved, with no tufts or curls at the ends.
- Cirrus with elements which take on a rounded appearance on the top, with the lower part appearing ragged.
- Cirrus clouds whose filaments are irregularly curved or tangled.
- A slender, horizontal, cirriform spiral, indicative of severe turbulence at that layer of the atmosphere.
- Large area of cirrus displaying horizontal banding.
- Cirrus thick enough to appear greyish when looking in the direction of the sun.
- Akin to cirrus fibratus, only more curled at the ends
- Cirrus in curved horizontal strips; cirrus with a "rib cage" appearance.
- Cirrus with bubble-like protrusions on the underside.
[edit] Cirrocumulus
Abbreviation: Cc
Cirrocumulus clouds occur at 20,000-40,000 feet above the earth's surface. They form from cirrus or cirrostratus clouds which are warmed gently from below. The heating process creates convective currents, or pockets of air which rise and sink inside the cloud. If there is no sign of cirrus or cirrostratus clouds nearby, then the cloud is most likely an altocumulus.
- Cirrocumulus which feature vertical "clumps".
- Cirrocumulus with elements which take on a rounded appearance on the top, with the lower part appearing ragged.
- Cirrocumulus with bubble-like protrusions on the underside.
[edit] Cirrostratus
Abbreviation: Cs
Cirrostratus clouds are often translucent and do not bring precipitation.
[edit] Contrail
Aircraft engines emit water vapour into the atmosphere, and this vapour is then frozen into ice crystals. These are known as condensation trails (contrails).
[edit] Medium-level clouds
[edit] Altostratus
Abbreviation: As
Altostratus clouds form when a large lifted air mass is condensed, usually from a frontal system, and can bring rain or snow.
- altostratus duplicatus
- altostratus lenticularis
- altostratus mammatus
- altostratus opacus
- altostratus praecipitatio
- altostratus radiatus
- altostratus translucidus
- altostratus undulatus
[edit] Altocumulus
Image:Mackerelskylincolnshire.jpg Abbreviation: Ac
Altocumulus clouds are not usually associated with a front but can still bring rain or snow.
- altocumulus castellanus
- altocumulus duplicatus
- altocumulus floccus
- altocumulus lacunosus
- altocumulus mackerel sky
- altocumulus opacus
- altocumulus perlucidus
- altocumulus radiatus
- altocumulus stratiformis
- altocumulus translucidus
- altocumulus undulatus
- altocumulus virga
[edit] Nimbostratus
Image:June 2005 dark cloud.jpg
Abbreviation: Ns
Nimbostratus clouds tend to bring constant precipitation and low visibility.
- nimbostratus floccus
- nimbostratus opacus
- nimbostratus pannus
- nimbostratus praecipitatio
- nimbostratus virga
[edit] Low-level clouds
[edit] Stratocumulus
Abbreviation: Sc
Stratocumulus clouds are lumpy, layered clouds often following a cold front, and they can produce rain or drizzle.
- stratocumulus castellanus
- stratocumulus duplicatus
- stratocumulus floccus
- stratocumulus lacunosus
- stratocumulus lenticularis
- stratocumulus mammatus
- stratocumulus opacus
- stratocumulus perlucidus
- stratocumulus praecipitatio
- stratocumulus radiatus
- stratocumulus translucidus
- stratocumulus undulatus
[edit] Stratus
Abbreviation: St
Stratus clouds are layerlike clouds associated with widespread precipitation or ocean air, and often produce drizzle.
- stratus fractus
- stratus lenticularis
- stratus nebulosus
- stratus opacus
- stratus praecipitatio
- stratus translucidus
- stratus undulatus
[edit] Cumulus
Abbreviation: Cu
Cumulus clouds are sometimes called fair weather clouds but can develop into more storm-condition clouds (cumulonimbus, for example), and continued upward growth suggests showers later in the day.
- arcus (including roll and shelf clouds)
- cumulus congestus
- cumulus fractus
- cumulus humilis
- cumulus mediocris
- cumulus praecipitatio
- cumulus radiatus
- orographic
- pannus
- pileus
- tuba
- velum
[edit] Vertically developed clouds
[edit] Cumulonimbus
Abbreviation: Cb
Cumulonimbus is the cloud of storms and rain or showers.
- capillatus
- calvus
- incus
- pileus
- spissatus
- mammatus
- arcus
- shelf
- scud
- roll
- praecipitatio
- tuba
- velum
- pannus
[edit] Other clouds
- Nacreous cloud (mother of pearl)
A thin cloud seen most often between sunset and sunrise and is between 12 to 18 miles (19 to 29 km) high
A thin cloud seen most often between sunset and sunrise and is 32 to 35 miles (51 to 56 km) high
[edit] The meaning of cloud names
[edit] Main cloud components
- Altum – height
- Cirrus – lock of hair
- Cumulus – heaped
- Nimbus – rain bearing
- Stratus – layer
[edit] Main cloud types
- Altocumulus – altum and cumulus – height and heaped
- Altostratus – altum and stratus – height and layer
- Cirrocumulus – cirrus and cumulus – lock of hair and heaped
- Cirrostratus – cirrus and stratus - lock of hair and layer
- Cirrus – lock of hair
- Cumulonimbus – cumulus and nimbus – heaped and rain bearing
- Cumulus - heaped
- Nimbostratus – nimbus and stratus – rain bearing and layer
- Stratocumulus – stratus and cumulus – layer and heaped
- Stratus – layer
[edit] Main sub-cloud types
- Castellanus – castle-like with a series of turret shapes
- Congestus – moderate development and heaped into cauliflower shapes
- Fibratus – thin filament type clouds, can be straight or slightly curved
- Floccus – looking like a tuft of wool, small congestus
- Fractus – irregular shredded appearance
- Humilis – small, low, flattened cumulus
- Lenticularis – having a lens-like appearance
- Mediocris – medium size cumulus with small bulges at the top
- Nebulosus – indistinct cloud without features
- Spissatus – thick cirrus with a grey appearance
- Stratiformis – horizontal cloud sheet
- Uncinus – cirrus with a hook shape at the top
[edit] Other cloud types
- Arcus – arch or a bow – mostly attached to cumulus, thick with ragged edges
- Duplicatus – double – partly merged layers of cloud
- Incus – anvil - top part of Cb cloud, anvil shaped
- Intortus – twisted – curved and tangled cirrus
- Mammatus – breast cloud – round pouches on surface of cloud
- Lacunosus – full of holes – thin cloud distinguished by holes and ragged edges
- Opacus – thick and shadowy – an opaque sheet of cloud
- Pannus – shredded cloth – shredded sections attached to main cloud
- Perlucidus – translucent – sheet of cloud with small spaces among itself
- Pileus – capped – hood shaped cumulus type cloud
- Praecipitatio – falling – cloud whose precipitation reaches the ground
- Radiatus – radiant – parallel lines converging at a central point, often cirrus
- Tuba – like a trumpet – column hanging from the bottom of cumulus
- Translucidus – transparent – translucent patch or sheet
- Undulatus – wavy – cloud displaying an undulating pattern
- Velum - a ship’s sail – sail-like in appearance
- Vertebratus – skeletal and bone like – cirrus arranged to look like bones or skeleton
[edit] Storm Clouds
Clouds associated with the development and duration of storms
- Accessory cloud – cloud that is attached to and develops on body of main cloud
- Anvil – the top flatter part of a cumulonimbus cloud
- Anvil Dome – the overshooting top on a Cb that is often present on a supercell
- Anvil Rollover – (slang) circular protrusion attached to underside of anvil
- Back-sheared Anvil – (slang) anvil that spreads upwind, indicative of extreme weather
- Cloud tags – ragged detached portions of cloud
- Collar Cloud – rare ring shape surrounding upper part of wall cloud
- Cumulus – heaped clouds
- Cumulus arcus – arch or a bow shape, attached to cumulus, thick with ragged edges
- Cumulus congestus – moderate development and heaped into cauliflower shapes
- Cumulus fractus – ragged detached portions of cumulus cloud
- Cumulus humilis - small, low, flattened cumulus, early development
- Cumulus Mediocris - medium-sized cumulus with small bulges at the top
- Cumulus pannus - shredded sections attached to main cumulus cloud
- Cumulus pileus - capped – hood shaped cumulus cloud
- Cumulus praecipitatio - cumulus whose precipitation reaches the ground
- Cumulus radiatus – cumulus arranged in parallel lines
- Cumulus tuba - column hanging from the bottom of cumulus
- Cumulus velum - cumulus displaying an undulating pattern
- Cumulonimbus – rare cloud similar to mammatus, attached to underside of Cb
- Cumulonimbus – heaped towering rain-bearing clouds that stretch to the upper levels
- Cumulonimbus arcus - arch or a bow shape, attached to cumulonimbus
- Cumulonimbus calvus – cumulonimbus whose upper parts have lost their shape
- Cumulonimbus capillatus - Cb whose upper parts have taken on a cirrus-like form
- Cumulonimbus incus – Cb with anvil aloft
- Cumulonimbus mammutus - pouch-like protrusions that hang from under an anvil
- Cumulonimbus pannus - shredded sections attached to main Cb cloud
- Cumulonimbus pileus - capped – hood shaped cumulonimbus cloud
- Cumulonimbus praecipitatio - Cb whose precipitation reaches the ground
- Cumulonimbus spissatus - cumulonimbus with a thick grey appearance
- Cumulonimbus tuba - column hanging from the bottom of cumulonimbus
- Cumulonimbus velum - cumulonimbus displaying an undulating pattern
- Debris cloud – rotating ‘cloud’ of debris found at base of tornado
- Funnel cloud – rotating funnel of cloud hanging from under Cb, not making contact with ground
- Knuckle Cloud – lumpy protrusion that hangs from edge or underside of anvil
- Roll Cloud – elongated, low-level, tube shaped, horizontal cloud
- Rope Cloud – narrow, sometimes twisted funnel type cloud seen after tornado dissipates
- Scud Cloud – ragged detached portions of cloud
- Shelf Cloud – wedge shaped cloud often attached to the underside of Cb
- Wall Cloud – distinctive fairly large lowering of the rain free base of a Cb, often rotating
