type of clouds

CLOUDS

The list of cloud types groups the main genera as high (cirrus, cirro-), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbostratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus), and low (stratus, strato-) according to the altitude level or levels at which each cloud is normally found. Small cumulus are commonly grouped with the low clouds because they do not show significant vertical extent.

Abbreviation- Cirriform clouds- Ci

• Ci- tend to be wispy and are mostly transparent or translucent.

• Cirrus fibratus 

  Ci fib

• SymbolGenusCirrus (curl of hair)Speciesfibratus (fibrous)AltitudeAbove 6,000 m(Above 20,000 ft)Appearancefibers, threads[1]Precipitation cloud?No

Cirrus uncinus cloud

• Cirrus uncinus cloud Abbreviation Ci uncGenusCirrus (curl of hair)Speciesuncinus (hooked)AltitudeAbove 7000 m(Above 23,000 ft)Appearancecurly, hookedPrecipitation cloud?No, but may indicate precipitation approach.

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Cirrus spissatus cloud

Cirrus uncinus and Cirus spissatus merging into cirrostratus fibratus over Swifts Creek, Victoria .Abbreviation Ci Spi GenusCirrus- "curl of hair" and-spissatus "dense, compact"

Altitude6000-13,700 m(20,000-45,000 ft)

Appearancefine threads or whips

Precipitation cloud?

No

Cirrus castellanus cloud

AbbreviatioCi ca

SymbolGenus Cirrus (curl of hair)Speciescastellanus (castle-shaped)

AltitudeAbove 6,000 m(Above 20,000 ft)

Appearance A series of dense lumps, or "towers" of cirrus, connected by a thinner base

.Precipitation cloud? No

Cirrus floccus

Abbreviation Ci floS

ymbolGenus Cirrus (curl of hair)Speciesfloccus (flaked or puffy)

Altitude Above 5,000 m(Above 16,500 ft)

Appearancesmall tuftsP

recipitation cloud? Occasionally virga

Altocumulus

Altocumulus cloud formation

Abbreviation Ac Symbol Genus

Alto- ('), -cumulus Species Castellanus Flocus Lenticularis Stratiformis Lacunosus Opacus Perlucidus Radiatus Translucidus Undulatus Altitude2,000–7,000 m(7,000–23,000 ft)

Classification Family B (Medium-level) Appearance Similar to cirrocumulus, virga only

Low CloudsSurface - 2 km (surface - 7,000 ft)

Clouds with Vertical Growth

Surface - 13 km (surface - 43,000 ft)

Clouds that grow up instead of spreading out across the sky.

Unusual Clouds

Clouds that form in unique ways and are not grouped by height.

Contrails

5 - 13 km (16,000 - 43, 000 ft)

et aircraft flying at high altitudes often produce a trail of condensed vapor called a contrail. The mixing of hot exhaust gases from the engines with cold outside air causes ice crystals to form on particles in the exhaust. A contrail evaporates rapidly when the relative humidity of the surrounding air is low. If the humidity is high, a contrail may stay visible as cirrus-like clouds for many hours.