Cloud Types Notes

Cumulus Puffy, fluffy, white cotton balls, can be tall, breaks in sky, flat bases Altitude: 500-13,000meters; high level atmosphere Associated with fair weather Can become large, black, ominous on a hot summer day Spread out and covers most/all of the sky, layers, dull grey sky in winter, no definite form Fog is a Stratus cloud. Altitude: 500-2,000 meters; low level atmosphere Associated with moist weather High, large white and grey globular masses and rolls Altitude: 500-2,000m; mid level atmosphere Associated with rain Low, large, white and gray globular masses and rolls across the sky Altitude 2000-7000m; low level atmosphere Associated with cold fronts, often seen in winter Wispy, thin, horses tails Altitude: 7,000-13,000 meters; high level atmosphere Forms horizontally (wind movement) Associated with change in weather Formed by water vapor that turns into ice crystals in the cold atmosphere at high altitudes Ripples spread in lines across the sky Forms vertically (wind movement) Altitude: 7,000-13,000 meters; high level atmosphere Associated with an approaching warm front Spread out and covers most/all of the sky, layers Dark/grey skies, precipitation, blocks out sunlight Forms horizontally (wind movement) Altitude: 500-2,000 meters; low level atmosphere Associated with steady rain or snow Nimbo/nimbus means rain Towering, large, fluffy, white with a dark flat base and an anvil shaped top Forms vertically (wind movement)

Stratus

Altocumulus

Stratocumulus

Cirrus

Cirrocumulus

Nimbostratus

Cumulonimbus

Altitude: 500-18,000 meters; forms in lower level atmosphere, towers high Associated with thunderstorms, hail