DoYouKnowYourClouds?

Copyright2010.M.J.Krech.Allrightsreserved.

Doyouknowthe
cloudrootwords?
Cumulusmeansheap
Stratusmeanslayer
Cirrusmeanscurlofhair
Nimbusmeansrain

1stTypeofCloud
HighLevelClouds
Formabove20,000ft
Composedoficecrystals
Usuallyarethinandwhite
CirrusandCirrostratus

Cirrus
Anicecrystalcloud
showingfilaments
oficecrystals
CirrusFamily
Abbrev:Ci
Associatedwith
fairweather

Cirrostratus
Highlevelveilofice
crystalcloud
Frequentlyproduces
ahaloaroundthesun
ormoon
CirrusFamily
Abbrev:Cs
Associatedwith
precipitation.

Cirrocumulus
Highlevelcloud.
Abbrev:Cc
Associatedwithfair,butcoldweather.

2ndTypeofCloud

MidLevelClouds
Appearbetween6,500ft.
to20,000ft.
Composedmostlyof
waterdroplets,butcanbe
icecrystalsifcoldenough
Altocumulusand
Altostratus

Altocumulus
Layeredcloudwith
globularstructure
Sometimescalled
"buttermilksky
HeapFamily
Abbrev:Ac
Associatedwith
storms.

Altostratus
Thicklylayered
waterdropletcloud
Sun'sdiskdiffusedasif
viewedthroughasheer
curtain
Icecrystalsifcoldenough
StratusFamily
Abbrev:As
Associatedwithstorms.

3rdTypeofCloud

LowLevelClouds
Generallybelow6,500ft.
Composedmostlyof
waterdroplets
Nimbostratus,
Stratocumulus
andStratus

Stratus
Lowlyingformless
sheet
CalledFOGwhen
baseliesonground
StratusFamily
Abbrev:St
Associatedwith
precipitation.

Nimbostratus
Generallyformless
massoflowstorm
clouds
Associatedwith
continuousrainfallor
snowfall
LayerFamily
Abbrev:Ns
Associatedwith
precipitation.

Stratocumulus
Lowlayeredcloud
withbumpy,
heaplikestructure
Heap/LayerFamily
Abbrev:Sc
Associatedwith
precipitation.

4thTypeofCloud
VerticallyDevelopedClouds
Thesecloudscangrow
toheightsinexcessof
39,000ft.
Theyreleaseincredible
amountsofenergy
throughcondensation
Canspawntornadoesand
hailstorms

Cumulonimbus
Amassivepileof
cloudspenetrating
thefreezinglevel
Sometimesforms
ananvilatthebase
ofthestratosphere
CumulusFamily
Abbrev:Cb
Associatedwith
storms.

Cumulus
Smallheapsof
cloudswithflattish
bottomsandrounded
tops
CalledFairWeather
Cloud
CumulusFamily
Abbrev:Cu
Associatedwithfair
weather.

5thTypeofClouds
ThePrecipitationClouds
Twocloudscanbe
groupedtogether
Nimbostratus,Ns
Cumulonimbus,Cb

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#1

#1:Stratocumulus

layerswithheaps

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#2:

#2:Cirrus

icycurlshighinthesky

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#3:

#3:Stratus

lowthinsheets

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#4:

#4:Altostratus

thickbillowylayers

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#5:

#5:Cirrocumulus

highlayeredsmallheaps

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#6:

#6:Altocumulus

layeredwithevidenceofbillows

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#7:

#7:Cumulonimbus

verticaltowersofrainclouds

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#8:

#8:Cirrostratus

highsheetlikeveil

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

#9:

#9:Nimbostratus

thicklayersofrain

DoYouKnowYourClouds?
#10:

#10:Cumulus

widelyspacedsmallcloudmasses

DoYouKnowYourClouds?

The
End
Copyright2010.M.J.Krech.Allrightsreserved.