CLOUDS

Clouds are your weather signposts in the sky. They provide a visible indication of the
processes occurring in the atmosphere. To the astute observer, they give valuable
information about current and future conditions. Your understanding of how weather affects
your flight will be greatly improved if you are able to read and interpret these signposts.

TYPE OF CLOUDS
Clouds are visible moisture that has condensed or sublimated onto condensation nuclei such
as dust, salt, or combustion particles. Individual condensation nuclei are extremely small, as
are the water or ice particles that adhere to them. Before precipitation can occur, these
particles must grow in size. They do this by constantly cooliding and merging with other
particles, a process most apparent in the strong updrafts of cumulus

CHARACTERISTICS OF STABLE AND UNSTABLE AIR

Stable air Unstable air
Clouds Wide areas of layered clouds or fog; gray at Extensive vertical
low altitude, thin white at high altitude development; bright white
to black; billowy
Precipitation Small droplets in fog and low-level clouds; Large drops in heavy rain
large droplets in thick stratified clouds; showers; showers usually
widespread and lengthy periods of rain or brief; hail possible
snow
Visibility Restricted for long periods Poor in showers or
thundershowers, good
otherwise
Turbulence Usually light or nonexistent Moderate to heavy
Icing Moderate in mid-altitudes; freezing rain, Moderate to heavy clear
rime, or clear ice ice
Other Frost, dew, temperature inversions High or gusty surface
winds, lightning, tornadoes

Figure 4-12. stable air is generally smooth, with layered or stratiform clouds. Visibility is
usually restricted, with widespread areas of clouds and steady rain or drizzle. Unstable air is
usually bumpy, with good surface visibility outside of scattered rain showers.
 Family Altitude (Middle Latitude) Cloud Type
Low Bases range from the surface to Cumulus
6,500 ft. AGL Stratocumulus
Stratus
Middle Bases range from 6,500 ft. AGL Altocumulus
to 23,000 ft. AGL Altostratus
Nimbostratus
High Bases usually range from 16,500 Cirrus
ft. AGL to 45,000 AGL Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus
Clouds with Bases range from 1,000 ft. AGL Towering Cumulus
Extensive or less to 10,000 ft. AGL or more; Cumulonimbus
Vertical tops sometime exceed 60,000 ft.
Development MSL
Figure 4-13. Cumulus clouds form is unstable air, while stratus clouds form in stable air. The
term “nimbus” describes clouds that produce rain.

Clouds. Clouds are divided into four basic groups, depending upon their characterics and the
altitudes where they occur. [figure 4-13]

LOW CLOUDS
Low clouds extend form near the surface to about 6,500 feet AGL. A surface-basedcloud
most people are familiar with is fog. Low clouds usually consist almost entirely of water but
sometimes may contain supercooled water which can create an icing hazard for aircraft.

Stratus clouds are layered clouds that form in stable air near the surface due to cooling
from below. Although turbulence in these clouds is low, they usually restrict visual flying dur
to low ceilings and visibility. Icing conditions are possible if temperatures are at or near
freezing. Stratus clouds may form when stable air is lifted up sloping terrain, or when warm
rain evaporates as it falls through cool air. [figure 4-14]

Stratocumulus clouds are white, puffy clouds that form as stable air is lifted. They form as
a stratus layer breaks up or as cumulus clouds spread out. [figure 4-15]

Cumulus cloud form in convective currents resulting from the heating of the earth’s surface.
They ussualy have flat bottoms and dome-shaped tops. Widely spaced cumulus clouds that
form in fairly clear skies are called fair weather cumulus and indicate a shallow layer of
instability. You can expect turbulence, but little icing and precipitation.
Fig

Figure 4-14 Stratus clouds have a gray, Figure 4-15. These are mainly
uniform appearance and generally cover a stratocumulus clouds. A few cumulus
wide area. clouds indicate an area with slightly more
convective currents than the surrounding
areas.

MIDDLE CLOUDS
Middle clouds have bases that range from about 6,500 to 23,000 feet AGL. They are
composed of water, ice crystals, or supercooled water. They may contain moderate
turbulence and potentially severe icing.

Altostratus clouds are flat, dense clouds that cover a wide area. They are a uniform gray-
white in color. Although they produce minimal turbulence, they may contain moderate icing.
Altocumulus clouds are gray or white, patchy clouds of uniform appearance that often form
when altostratus clouds start to break up. They may produce light turbulence and icing.
[Figure 4-16]

Nimbostratus clouds are gray black clouds that can be more than several thousand feet
thick and contain large quantities of moisture. If temperatures are near or below freezing,
they may create heacy icing. [Figure 4-17]

HIGH CLOUDS
These clouds have bases that range from about 16,500 to 45,000 feet AGL. They are
generally white to light gray in color and form in stable

Fig
Figure 4-16. Altocumulus clouds extend
over a wide area and may contain highly
supercooled water droplets.
Fig
Figure 4-17. Nimbostratus clouds produce
widespread areas of rain or snow.
Although they are classified as middle
clouds, they may merge into low stratus or
stratocumulus.
Air. They are composed mainly of ice crystals and seldom pose a serious turbulence or icing
hazard.

Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy that usually form above 30,000 feet. White or light gray in
color, they often exist in patches or narrow bands that cross the sky. They are sometimes
blown from the tops of thunderstorms or towering cumulus clouds. [figure 4-18]

Cirrostratus clouds also are thin, white clouds that often form in long bands or sheets
against a deep blue background. Although they may be several thousand feet thick, moisture
content is low and they pose no that look like cotton. They form as a result of shallow
convective currents at high altitude and may produce light turbulence.