Describe the different types of clouds with their height , ability to rain and density.
Answers
1) High Clouds
They can reach above 6000 metres or 20,000 feet.
They are also known as Cirrus Clouds.
They are usually thin and are made up of ice.
Types of High Clouds Description
1. Cirrus They are thin and often wispy cirrus clouds. Typically found at heights greater than 20,000 feet (6,000 meters), they are composed of ice crystals that originate from the freezing of supercooled water droplets.
2. Cirrostratus They are high, very thin, comprises a uniform layer, and are composed of ice-crystals. It is difficult to detect and is capable of forming halos when the cloud takes the form of thin cirrostratus nebulosus.
3. Cirrocumulus They are small rounded puffs shaped clouds, that usually appear in long rows high in the sky and are usually white, but sometimes appear grey.
2) Middle Clouds
They form between 6,500 feet and cirrus level or from 2000 to 6000 metres.
They are also known as “Alto” clouds.
They frequently indicate an approaching storm.
They may sometimes produce Virga, which is a rain or snow that does not reach the ground.
Types of Middle Clouds Description
1. Altostratus These clouds are in the form of continuous sheet or veil, grey or blue-gray in colour. They are composed of ice crystals and water droplets. In its thinner areas, the sun can still be visible as a round, dim disk. These clouds may often form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow.
2. Altocumulus They are greyish sheet cloud, characterised by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches, the individual elements being larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus and smaller than those of stratocumulus.
3) Low Clouds
They lie below 6,500 feet, which means from the surface to 2,000 meters.
Low clouds are also known as Stratus Clouds.
They may appear dense, dark, and rainy (or snowy) and can also be cottony white clumps interspersed with blue sky.
Stratus Clouds
Types of Low Clouds Description
1. Strato Cumulus Usually arranged in a large dark, rounded or globular masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves.
2. Stratus Usually looks like a huge grey blanket that hangs low in the sky that resembles fog, comprises uniform layer and appear dull, if these clouds are warm it means rain and if it is cold it snows.
3. Nimbostratus They are known as ‘Rain Clouds’ and they are dark, thick and accompanied by light to moderately falling precipitation.
4) Great Vertical Extent Clouds
They are most dramatic types of clouds.
Great Vertical Extent Clouds are also known as the Storm Clouds.
They rise to dramatic heights, and sometimes well above the level of transcontinental jetliner flights.
Cumulus Clouds
Types of Great Vertical Extent Clouds Description
1. Cumulus They are convection clouds, puffy, that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton. The base of each cloud is often flat and may be only 1000 meters (3300 feet) above the ground. The top of the cloud has rounded towers.
2. Cumulonimbus They are dense towering vertical cloud, it’s top acquiring an ‘Anvil Shape’, associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, forming from water vapour carried by powerful
Answer:there are 4 types of clouds namely-
CUMULUS,STRATUS, NIMBUS,CIRRUS
Explanation:THERE ARE BASICALLY 4 TYPES OF CLOUDS
1) CIRRUS CLOUDS ARE LONG,VERTICAL ND STRETCH HIGH IN THE SKY
2) STRATUS ARE FLAT SHEATH CLOUDS WHICH SPREAD OVER THE SKY
3) NIMBUS ARE DARK ,HEAVY,RAINY CLOUDS WHICH FALL AS RAIN
4) THEY ARE ALSO VERTICAL CLOUDS USUALLY SEEN IN FAIR WEATHER