WHAT IS CLOUDS?

A cloud is a visible mass of droplets of water or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. A cloud is also a visible mass attracted by gravity, such as masses of material in space

CLASSIFICATION OF CLOUDS

High clouds (Family A)Middle clouds (Family B) Low clouds (Family C1) Low to middle clouds (Family C2) Vertical clouds (Family D)

High clouds (Family A)

• High clouds form between 10,000 and 25,000 ft (3,000 and 8,000 m) in the polar regions, 16,500 and 40,000 ft (5,000 and 12,000 m) in the temperate regions and 20,000 and 60,000 ft (6,000 and 18,000 m) in the tropical region.

High clouds (Family A)

CIRRUS CLOUDS

CIRROCUMULUS CLOUDSCIRROSTRATUS CLOUDS

Middle clouds (Family B)

• Middle clouds tend to form at 6,500 ft (2,000 m) but may form at heights up to 13,000 ft (4,000 m), 23,000 ft (7,000 m) or 25,000 ft (8,000 m) depending on the region. Generally the warmer the climate, the higher the cloud base.

Middle clouds (Family B)

ALTOCUMULUS CLOUDS

ALTOSTRATUS CLOUDS

Low clouds (Family C1)

• These are found from near surface up to 6,500 ft (2,000 m) and include the genus stratus. When stratus clouds contact the ground, they are called fog, although not all fog forms from stratus.

Low clouds (Family C1)

STRATOCUMULUS CLOUDS

STRATUS CLOUDS

Low to middle clouds (Family C2)

• These clouds can be based anywhere from near surface to about 10,000 ft (3,000 m). Cumulus usually forms in the low altitude range but bases may rise into the lower part of the middle range during conditions of very low relative humidity.

Low to middle clouds (Family C2)

CUMULUS CLOUDS

NIMBOSTRATUS CLOUDS

Vertical clouds (Family D)

• These clouds can have strong up-currents, rise far above their bases and form at many heights.

Vertical clouds (Family D)

CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS

PYROCUMULUS CLOUDS

REFERENCES

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud