Cloud Formation

All clouds require 3 things

1. Water vapor
2. Cloud Condensation nuclei (CCN)
3. Cooling - heat transfer out of air parcel
or work done by air molecules in parcel.

Mechanisms for Cooling the Air

(1) Lifting – most clouds form when air is lifted.
a) Convergence – low press center – stratus
b) Mountains – lifting by terrain
c) Fronts – lifting over denser air.
d) Warm air relative to surroundings
i) Fires, volcanoes – cumulus
ii) Latent heat
(2) Mixing – seeing your breath on cold day
(3) Contact – with cold surface: advection fog
(4) Radiation – fog in winter mornings

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 Cloud classification
Clouds are categorized by their (cloud base) height,
appearance, and vertical development
– High Clouds - generally above 16,000 ft (>5 km) at
middle latitudes and up to the tropopause
• Main types - Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus
– Middle Clouds – 7,000-23,000 feet (2-7 km)
• Main types – Altostratus, Altocumulus
– Low Clouds - below 6,500 ft (2 km)
• Main types – Stratus, stratocumulus,
nimbostratus
– Vertically developed clouds (via convection)
• Main types – Cumulus, Cumulonimbus

Rayleigh-Benard convection Cellular structure in a top view

10o

Cellular structure of stratocumulus clouds

over the NE Pacific (9/14/06)

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 High Clouds Cirrus

• White in day; read/orange/yellow at

sunrise/sunset
• Made of ice crystals

Cirrus (Ci)
• Thin and wispy
• Move toward the east
• Indicate fair weather

Cirrocumulus (Cc)
• Less common than crirrus
• Small, rounded white puffs individually
or in long rows (fish scales; mackerel
sky)

Cirrostratus (Cs)
• Thin and sheet-like
• Sun/moon clearly visible through them
• Halo common
• Often precede precipitation

High Clouds
Cirrocumulus
• White in day; read/orange/yellow at
sunrise/sunset
• Made of ice crystals

Cirrus (Ci)
• Thin and wispy
• Move toward the east
• Indicate fair weather

Cirrocumulus (Cc)
• Less common than crirrus
• Small, rounded white puffs individually
or in long rows (fish scales; mackerel
sky)

Cirrostratus (Cs)
• Thin and sheet-like
• Sun/moon clearly visible through them
• Halo common
• Often precede precipitation

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 High Clouds
• White in day; read/orange/yellow at
sunrise/sunset
• Made of ice crystals

Cirrus (Ci)
• Thin and wispy
• Move toward the east
• Indicate fair weather

Cirrocumulus (Cc)
• Less common than crirrus
• Small, rounded white puffs individually
or in long rows (fish scales; mackerel Cirrostratus
sky)

Cirrostratus (Cs)
• Thin and sheet-like
• Sun/moon clearly visible through them
• Halo common
• Often precede precipitation

Middle Clouds
• Altostratus (As)
– Gray, blue-gray
– Often covers entire sky
– No halo
– Sun or moon may show
through dimly
• Usually no shadows
• Altocumulus
– <1 km thick
– mostly water drops
– Gray, puffy
– Differences from cirrocumulus
• Larger puffs
• More dark/light contrast

Altostratus (As)

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Middle Clouds
• Altostratus
– Gray, blue-gray
– Often covers entire sky
– Sun or moon may show
through dimly
• Usually no shadows
• Altocumulus (Ac)
– <1 km thick
– mostly water drops
– Gray, puffy
– Differences from cirrocumulus
• Larger puffs
• More dark/light contrast

Altocumulus (Ac)

Stratus (St) Low Clouds

• Uniform, gray
• Resembles fog that does not reach the ground
• Usually no precipitation, but light mist/drizzle possible

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Stratocumulus (Sc)
• Low lumpy clouds Low Clouds
• Breaks (usually) between cloud elements
• Lower base and larger elements than altostratus

Nimbostratus (Ns) Low Clouds

• Dark gray
• Continuous light to moderate rain or snow
• Evaporating rain below can form fractus

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Cumulus (Cu) Vertically Developed Clouds
• Puffy “cotton”
• Flat base, rounded top
• More space between cloud elements than stratocumulus

Cumulus Congestus Vertically Developed Clouds

• Towering cumulus
• Rain showers

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Cumulonimbus (Cb)
• Thunderstorm cloud
Vertically Developed Clouds
• Very tall, often reaching tropopause, often with anvils
• Individual or grouped
• Violent vertical motion that may exceed 50 knots
• Large energy release from water vapor condensation

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 Cloud type
(Fog is just one type of cloud that touches ground)

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Visible

Cu

Cb Ci
Stc

Cu

Cu

Cb

Infrared

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