Cloud Classification and
Characteristics
Clouds are classified according to
their height above and appearance
(texture) from the ground.
The following cloud roots
and translations
summarize the
components of this
classification system:
1) Cirro-: curl of hair, high
2) Alto-: mid.
3) Strato-: layer.
4) Nimbo-: rain, precipitation.
5) Cumulo-: heap.
High-level clouds:
High-level clouds occur above about 20,000 feet and are
given the prefix "cirro-". Due to cold tropospheric
temperatures at these levels, the clouds primarily
are composed of ice crystals, and often appear thin,
streaky, and white (although a low sun angle, e.g., near
sunset, can create an array of color on the clouds).
The three main types of high clouds are
cirrus,
cirrostratus, and
cirrocumulus.
Cirrus clouds
Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery,
and composed entirely of ice
crystals. They often are the first
sign of an approaching warm front
or upper-level jet streak.
Cirrus clouds over a field
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrostratus clouds form more of a
widespread, veil-like layer (similar to
what stratus clouds do in low levels).
When sunlight or moonlight passes through
the hexagonal-shaped ice crystals of
cirrostratus clouds, the light is dispersed
or refracted (similar to light passing
through a prism) in such a way that a
familiar ring or halo may form. As a warm
front approaches, cirrus clouds tend to
thicken into cirrostratus, which may, in
turn, thicken and lower into altostratus,
stratus, and even nimbostratus.
cirrostratus
cirrocumulus clouds
Cirrocumulus clouds are layered
clouds permeated with small
cumuliform lumpiness. They also may
line up in streets or rows of
clouds across the sky denoting
localized areas of ascent (cloud
axes) and descent (cloud-free
channels).
cirrocumulus
Floyd County IN.
Ben Schott, NWS
Mid-level clouds:
The bases of clouds in the middle level of the troposphere, given
the prefix "alto-", appear between 6,500 and 20,000 feet.
Depending on the altitude, time of year, and vertical
temperature structure of the troposphere, these clouds may be
composed of liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or a combination
of the two, including super-cooled droplets (i.e., liquid droplets
whose temperatures are below freezing).
The two main type of mid-level clouds are
*Alostratus
*Altocumulus.
Altostratus clouds are "strato" type clouds
Altostratus clouds are "strato" type clouds that possess
a flat and uniform type texture in the mid levels. They
frequently indicate the approach of a warm front and
may thicken and lower into stratus, then nimbostratus
resulting in rain or snow.
However, altostratus clouds themselves do not produce
significant precipitation at the surface, although
sprinkles or occasionally light showers may occur from a
thick alto-stratus deck.
Altostratus clouds
Altocumulus clouds
Altocumulus clouds exhibit "cumulo" type characteristics in mid
levels, i.e., heap-like clouds with convective elements. Like
cirrocumulus, altocumulus may align in rows or streets of clouds,
with cloud axes indicating localized areas of ascending, moist air,
and clear zones between rows suggesting locally descending,
drier air.
Altocumulus clouds with some vertical extent may denote the
presence of elevated instability, especially in the morning, which
could become boundary-layer based and be released into deep
convection during the afternoon or evening.
Altocumulus (sunset)
Low-level clouds
Low-level clouds are not given a prefix, although
their names are derived from "strato-" or
"cumulo-", depending on their characteristics.
Low clouds occur below 6500 feet, and
normally consist of liquid water droplets or even
super-cooled droplets, except during cold
winter storms when ice crystals (and snow)
comprise much of the clouds.
Stratocumulus clouds
Stratocumulus clouds are hybrids of layered
stratus and cellular cumulus, i.e., individual
cloud elements, characteristic of cumulo type
clouds, clumped together in a continuous
distribution, characteristic of strato type clouds.
Stratocumulus also can be thought of as a layer
of cloud clumps with thick and thin areas. These
clouds appear frequently in the atmosphere,
either ahead of or behind a frontal system.
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus clouds
Nimbostratus clouds are generally thick, dense
stratus or stratocumulus clouds producing
steady rain or snow
cumulus cloud
A cumulus cloud that exhibits significant vertical
development (but is not yet a thunderstorm) is called
cumulus congestus or towering cumulus. If enough
atmospheric instability, moisture, and lift are present,
then strong updrafts can develop in the cumulus cloud
leading to a mature, deep cumulonimbus cloud, i.e., a
thunderstorm producing heavy rain.
In addition, cloud electrification occurs within
cumulonimbus clouds due to many collisions between
charged water droplet, graupel (ice-water mix), and ice
crystal particles, resulting in lightning and thunder.
Cumulus Cloud
cumulus cloud
cumulus congestus (towering)