Cloud Formation Chart

A great deal of cloud physics is wrapped up in this printable chart.

The mastery of the chart will give you deep insight about the formation of particular
types of clouds.

Clouds appear in a variety of pure and transitional forms. This chart gives a "grapenuts", concentrated,
description of the factors that determine which of the l2 major cloud forms will be present at a given moment
under a given set of circumstances.

A particular cloud is determined by the stability of the airmass in which it appears, the amount of positive
(upward) buoyancy , or negative, in the airmass, the water vapor content, the temperature range, the
presence of uplift due to fronts (cold, warm, occluded) and physical barriers (hills and mountains).

The information below the chart clarifies the meanings of the symbols e.g. under airmass stability uuu means
very unstable, uu means somewhat unstable, etc.; under buoyancy +++ means very buoyant, ++ means
somewhat buoyant, etc.

(You can print this chart, however it will be broken in half. A printable version is coming soon.)

Cloudman's Cloud Formation Chart

Group Elevation Name Temperature Orgraphy
Airmass Buoyance Moisture Frontal Precipitation
Stability Convection Content Lift Type
CU
High uuu +++ L + C.F. Y sh
congestus
CU
Heap Middle uu ++ M + Y
swelling
CU fair
Low u + S +
weather

High CS s 0 S -
Layer Middle AS s 0 M + W.F. r
Low ST (Fog) ss 0 (-) S + m

Heaps High CC u + S -
and
Middle AC u + M +
 Low SC u + M +
Layers

High CI N 0 S - sh virga
-
Middle CB uuuu ++++ LLL C.F. Y shshshsh
Precipitating +
O.F.
Low NS u + MM + rrr
W.F.

Description Code for Each Column Above

CU Cumulus
CS Cirrostratus W.F. sh
warm showers
AS Altostratus S S
+ + front
Stable up Small r
ST Stratus above
freezing C.F. rain
CC Cirrocumulus N M Y
  cold
AC Altocumulus Neutral Moderate front yes
-
SC Stratocumulus - below m
U L freezing O.F. mist
Unstable down Large
CI Cirrus occluded
CB Cumulonimbus front  
NS Nimbostratus