Types of Clouds

2009 ETC Press Inc.

Altocumulus

Alto: (Latin) middle

Cumulus: (Latin) heaps
Altocumulus are usually white or gray,
and often have the form of sheets
or patches with wavy, rounded rolls.
They are often seen before a cold
front and they are usually a signal that
thunderstorms might develop later in the
day.

Altitude: 2400-6100 m
Abbreviation: Ac
Appearance: large patches arranged in rows.

Altostratus

Alto: (Latin) High

Stratus: (Latin) Layer
Altostratus clouds look like a gray sheet
covering the whole sky, while the sun
shines through them. They are usually
formed by a mass of air that is lifted and
then condensed as the temperature
cools. They are made of ice crystals,
and can cause ice formations on
airplanes that fly through them.

Altitude: 2,000-5,000 m
Abbreviation: As
Appearance: Thin sheets of clouds that allows the sun
to shine through them.

Cirrocumulus

Cirrus: (Latin) A curl of hair

Cumulus: (Latin) Heap
Cirrocumulus are small, white patches
of clouds, that are made up of super
cooled water droplets and ice crystals.
Cirrocumulus are usually found at
higher altitudes, tend to have cold
temperatures, and appear translucent.

Altitude: Above 6000 m

Abbreviation: CC
Appearance: Small patches arranged in rows

Cirrostratus

Cirrus: (Latin) A curl of hair

Stratus: (Latin) Layer
Cirrostratus clouds are thin, uniform
clouds, made up of ice-crystals. When
they can be seen they are white in color,
with no special characteristics. They
are usually a signal that a warm front
is moving into the area, and that there
might be rain within the next few hours.

Altitude: Above 6000 m

Abbreviation: Cs
Appearance: White cloth like

Cirrus

Cirrus: (Latin) A curl of hair

Cirrus clouds look like thin, hair like
strands. They are formed when water
vapor cools in high altitudes, and forms
crystals. As the crystals move down in
altitude, they tend to move slower than
the top layers and therefore, they take
on the appearance of hair as they are
moved apart by the wind. Cirrus clouds
usually indicate that a storm might be
moving in within the next few hours.
Altitude: Above 7000 m
Abbreviation: Ci
Appearance: Thin, hair like strands

Cumulonimbus

Cumulus: (Latin) Heap

Nimbus: (Latin) Bringing rain
Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dense,
clouds, and are usually involved
in thunderstorms. Differences in
temperature at different levels of the
atmosphere produce cumulonimbus
clouds. They can form alone, in clusters,
or along a cold front in a squall line.

Altitude: 2,00016,000 m
Abbreviation: Cb
Appearance: Tall and large

Cumulus

Cumulus: (Latin) Heap

Cumulus clouds usually appear puffy
or cotton-like. They usually form when
warm air rises and reaches a level of
relatively cool air, causing the moisture
in the air to condense. When they are
small in size, they usually indicate fair
weather. However, they can grown into
cumulonimbus clouds which bring heavy
rain, lightning, strong winds, hail and
even tornadoes.
Altitude: Base below 2,000 m
Abbreviation: Cu
Appearance: puffy

 2009 ETC Press Inc.