Clouds


A little gale will soon disperse that cloud And blow it to the source from whence it came. Thy very beams will dry those vapors up, For every cloud engenders not a storm.
William Shakespeare, King Henry the Sixth, Part III (Clarence at V, iii)

 

Contents:

- LOW BASE CLOUDS WITH
LARGE VERTICAL EXTENT

- LOW BASE CLOUDS

- MIDDLE BASE CLOUDS

- HIGH BASE CLOUDS

- DESCRIPTIONS & SYMBOLS

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Super Link:
Clouds from Space

 

Leaving snow covered western France
Mid-Atlantic cloud formations



Nearing the Caribbean
Overflying the North of the Martinique

Over Northern China 2007

Chasing the sun back from Shanghai2007
Sunset over southern France 2008
Cumulonimbus over the Alps 2009
Over Lake Geneva France 2009
Cloud Identification

LOW BASE CLOUDS WITH
LARGE VERTICAL EXTENT
Base Level
500 to ±18000 metres (1600 to ±60 000 ft)
 

Supercell
(Cumulonimbus)
(Cb)

Undoubtably the King of the clouds and certainly the tallest of all clouds rising to ± 60 000 ft (18 000m). Generally associated with severe weather (Tornadoes, Hail storms.... (also called a mesocyclone if rotation is occurring within the thunderstorm cell)*
  Cumulonimbus (Cb)

* I had the chance to see both a Supercell and Cumulonimbus for myself when flying out of Dallas/Forth Worth (April 2003) after having spent the night in the airport because of a Tornado.
  Cumulonimbus Incus (Cb)

Cumulonimbus with an anvil typically known as a thunderstorm. Also known as Cumulonimbus Capillatus.
  Cumulonimbus Calvus (Cb)

Cumulonimbus or large cumulus with basically no anvil although the tops may become striated.
  Cumulus Congestus (Cu con)

Cumulus clouds which are markedly sprouting and are often of great vertical extent with tops resembling a cauliflower. Their heights exceed the dimensions of their bases.
 

Cumulus Mediocris (Cu)

Cumulus clouds of moderate vertical extent, the tops of which show fairly small protuberances. The base is a similar in width to the cloud height.
 

Cumulus Humilis (Cu)

Cumulus clouds of only a slight vertical extent. They generally appear flattened. Their bases are much wider than the their heights.

 

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LOW BASE CLOUDS
Base Level
0 to 3000 metres (0 to 9800 ft)
 

Stratocumulus (Sc)

Forms in layers sometimes hundreds of kilometres across. It usually has a ragged upper surface while the base is relatively flat. The most common cloud type.

 

Nimbostratus (Ns)

Rain producing cloud which varies in thickness and layers mostly occurring in a widespread sheet.
 

Stratus (S)

The lowest clouds, often appear as an overcast deck but can be scattered patches. Individual cloud elements have very ill-defined edges. Can manifest itself as fog

 

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MIDDLE BASE (ALTO)CLOUDS
Base Level
3000 to 7000 metres (9800 to 23,000 ft)
 

Altocumulus (Ac)

Cumulus in the middle levels of the atmosphere associated with the lifting of a large air mass and instability.

 

Altostratus (As)

This cloud is found in the middle levels of the atmosphere and is always a sign of the presence of significant amounts of moisture in those layers. It is typically featureless, ranging from a thin, white veil of cloud through which the sun is clearly visible, to a dense grey mantle that may block out the sun completely.

HIGH BASE CLOUDS
Base Level
Above 7000 metres (Above 23,000 ft)
 

Cirrocumulus (Cc)

High level clouds that appear as small rounded puffs arranged in rows or sheets.
 

Cirrus (Ci)

Composed of ice crystals in the form of delicate filaments, patches or bands.
 

Cirrostratus (Cs)

Ice crystal clouds that appear in the form of extensive sheets that may cover the whole sky.

Latin cloud descriptions:

stratus = layer
cumulus = heap
cirrus = wispy
nimbus = heavy rain

Cloud Symbols:

 

Weather symbols:

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