cloud types

= Cloud Types =

High-level clouds

CI or CIRRUS

These 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. cirrus
cirrus castellanus
cirrus radiatus
cirrus uncinus
cirrus fibratus
cirrus spissatus
cirrus intortus
cirrus vertebratus
cirrus floccus
cirrus duplicatus
cirrus with mammatus
cirrus kelvin-helmholtz
Isolated cirrus clouds often indicate a stable situation and do not bring precipitation.

CC or CIRROCUMULUS

cirrocumulus undulatus
cirrocumulus castellanus
cirrocumulus floccus
cirrocumulus lenticularis
cirrocumulus lacunosus
cirrocumulus with mammatus
Cirrocumulus clouds are often associated with a front but do cause precipitation.

CS or CIRROSTRATUS

cirrostratus duplicatus
cirrostratus nebulosus
cirrostratus fibratus
cirrostratus undulatus
Cirrostratus clouds are often translucent and do not bring precipitation

CONTRAILS

Aircraft tend to emit water vapour into the atmosphere, and this vapour is then frozen into ice crystals. These are known as condensation trails (Contrails)

Medium-level clouds

Low-level clouds

SC or STRATOCUMLUS

stratocumulus opacus
stratocumulus undulatus
stratocumulus castellanus
stratocumulus floccus
stratocumulus lenticularis
stratocumulus radiatus
stratocumulus lacunosus
stratocumulus duplicatus
stratocumulus translucidus
stratocumulus perlucidus
stratocumulus mammatus
stratocumulus praecipitatio
Stratocumulus can produce rain or drizzle

ST or STRATUS

opacus
nebulosus
translucidus
undulatus
lenticularis
fractus
praecipitatio
Stratus can often produce drizzle

CU or CUMULUS

humilis
fractus
Mediocris
congestus
orographic
radiatus
praecipitatio
arcus
tuba
pileus
velum
pannus
Cumulus is sometimes called fair weather cloud but can develop into more stormy conditions

Vertically developed clouds

CB or CUMULONIMBUS

capillatus
calvus
incus
pileus
spissatus
mammatus
arcus
shelf
scud
roll
praecipitatio
tuba
velum
pannus
Cumulonimbus is the cloud of storms and rain or showers

Other clouds

Nacreous cloud (mother of pearl) A thin cloud seen most often between sunset and sunrise and is between 12 to 18 miles high Noctilucent cloud A thin cloud seen most often between sunset and sunrise and is 32 to 35 miles high

A Closer look at Cloud Names

alphabetical list of cloud and sub-cloud types with a translation and descriptions where applicable

main cloud components

Altum - height Cirrus lock of hair Cumulus heaped Nimbus rain bearing Stratus layer

main cloud types

Cirrus lock of hair Cirrostratus cirrus and stratus - lock of hair and layer Cirrocumulus cirrus and cumulus lock of hair and heaped Altostratus altum and stratus height and layer Altocumulus altum and cumulus height and heaped Nimbostratus nimbus and stratus rain bearing and layer Stratocumulus stratus and cumulus layer and heaped Stratus - layer Cumulus - heaped Cumulonimbus cumulus and nimbus heaped and rain bearing

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

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 Mamma cows udder 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 ships sail sail-like in appearance Vertebratus skeletal and bone like cirrus arranged to look like bones or skeleton Virga stick or branch precipitation that does not reach the ground

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 size 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 Cumulonibus 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 funnel of cloud hanging from under CB but 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

<< Previous

Word Browser

Next >>