Cloud

Cumuliform cloudscape over Swifts Creek, Australia

In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol comprising a visible mass of
minute liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or particles suspended in
the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body.[1] The
droplets and crystals may be made of water or various chemicals.
On Earth, clouds are formed as a result of saturation of the air
when it is cooled to its dew point, or when it gains sufficient
moisture (usually in the form of water vapor) from an adjacent
source to raise the dew point to the ambient temperature. They
are seen in the Earth's homosphere (which includes
the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere). Nephology is the
science of clouds which is undertaken in the cloud physics branch
of meteorology.
• There are two methods of naming clouds in their respective layers
of the atmosphere; Latin and common. Cloud types in
the troposphere, the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface,
have Latin names due to the universal adaptation of Luke
Howard's nomenclature. Formally proposed in 1802, it became the
basis of a modern international system that divides clouds into five
physical formsthat appear in any or all of three
altitude levels (formerly known as étages). These physical types, in
approximate ascending order of convective activity,
include stratiform sheets, cirriform wisps and
patches, stratocumuliform layers (mainly structured as rolls, ripples,
and patches), cumuliform heaps, and very
large cumulonimbiform heaps that often show complex structure.
The physical forms are divided by altitude level into ten basic genus-
types. The Latin names for applicable high-level genera carry
a cirro- prefix, and an alto- prefix is added to the names of the mid-
level genus-types. Most of the genera can be subdivided
into species and further subdivided into varieties.
• Two cirriform clouds that form higher up in the stratosphere and
mesosphere have common names for their main types. They are seen
infrequently, mostly in the polar regions of Earth. Clouds have been
observed in the atmospheres of other planets and moons in the Solar
System and beyond. However, due to their different temperature
characteristics, they are often composed of other substances such
as methane, ammonia, and sulfuric acid as well as water.
• Taken as a whole, homospheric clouds can be cross-classified by form
and level to derive the ten tropospheric genera and the two additional
major types above the troposphere. The cumulus genus includes three
species that indicate vertical size. Clouds with sufficient vertical extent
to occupy more than one altitude level are officially classified as low-
or mid-level according to the altitude range at which each initially
forms. However they are also more informally classified as multi-
level or vertical.
• Levels and genera[edit]
• See also: Weather map and Station model
• Genus classification by altitude of occurrence. Multi-level types not limited
by altitude include the two main precipitating clouds, cumulonimbus and
nimbostratus. The latter has been horizontally compressed in this depiction.
• Tropospheric clouds form in any of three levels (formerly called étages)
based on altitude range above the Earth's surface. The grouping of clouds
into levels is commonly done for the purposes of cloud atlases, surface
weather observations[8] and weather maps.[20] The base-height range for
each level varies depending on the latitudinal geographical zone.[21] Each
altitude level comprises two or three genus types differentiated mainly by
physical form.
• The standard levels and genus-types are summarised below in approximate
descending order of the altitude at which each is normally based.[22] Multi-
level clouds with significant vertical extent are separately listed and
summarized in approximate ascending order of instability or convective
activity.[10]
• High-level[edit]
• High cirrus uncinus and cirrus fibratus (see also 'species and varieties'
section) upper-left merging into cirrostratus fibratus with some
higher cirrocumulus floccus upper right
• High clouds form at altitudes of 3,000 to 7,600 m (10,000 to 25,000 ft) in
the polar regions, 5,000 to 12,200 m (16,500 to 40,000 ft) in the temperate
regions and 6,100 to 18,300 m (20,000 to 60,000 ft) in the tropics.[8] All
cirriform clouds are classified as high and thus constitute a single
genus cirrus (Ci). Stratocumuliform and stratiform clouds in the high
altitude range carry the prefix cirro-, yielding the respective genus
names cirrocumulus (Cc) and cirrostratus (Cs). When limited-resolution
satellite images of high clouds are analysed without supporting data from
direct human observations, it becomes impossible to distinguish between
individual forms or genus types, which are then collectively identified
as high-type (or informally as cirrus-type even though not all high clouds
are of the cirrus form or genus).[23]
• Mid-level[edit]
• Sunrise scene giving a shine to an altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus cloud (see also 'species and
varieties)
• Non-vertical clouds in the middle level are prefixed by alto-, yielding the genus names altocumulus (Ac) for
stratocumuliform types and altostratus (As) for stratiform types. These clouds can form as low as
2,000 m (6,500 ft) above surface at any latitude, but may be based as high as 4,000 m (13,000 ft) near
the poles, 7,000 m (23,000 ft) at mid latitudes, and 7,600 m (25,000 ft) in the tropics.[8] As with high
clouds, the main genus types are easily identified by the human eye, but it is not possible to distinguish
between them using satellite photography. Without the support of human observations, these clouds are
usually collectively identified as middle-type oan satellite images.[23]
• Genus altocumulus (Ac):
• This is a mid-level cloud layer of limited convection that is usually appears in the form of irregular patches
or more extensive sheets arranges in groups, lines, or waves.[30] Altocumulus may occasionally resemble
cirrocumulus but is usually thicker and composed of a mix of water droplets and ice crystals, so that the
bases show at least some light-grey shading.[31] Altocumulus can produce virga, very light precipitation
that evaporates before reaching the ground.[32].Genus altostratus (As):
• Altostratus translucidus near top of photo merging into altostratus opacus near bottom
• Altostratus is a mid-level opaque or translucent non-convective veil of grey/blue-grey cloud that often
forms along warm fronts and around low-pressure areas. Altostratus is usually composed of water
droplets but may be mixed with ice crystals at higher altitudes. Widespread opaque altostratus can
produce light continuous or intermittent precipitation.[33]
• Low-level[edit]
• Low clouds are found from near surface up to 2,000 m (6,500 ft).[8] Genus types in this level either have
no prefix or carry one that refers to a characteristic other than altitude. Clouds that form in the low level
of the troposphere are generally of larger structure than those that form in the middle and high levels, so
they can usually be identified by their forms and genus types using satellite photography alone.[23]
• Stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus over Galapagos, Tortuga Bay (see also 'species and varieties')
• Genus stratocumulus (Sc):
• This genus type is a stratocumuliform cloud layer of limited convection, usually in the form of irregular
patches or more extensive sheets similar to altocumulus but having larger elements with deeper-gray
shading.[34] Stratocumulus is often present during wet weather originating from other rain clouds, but can
only produce very light precipitation on its own.[35]Genus cumulus (Cu); species humilis – little vertical
extent:
• These are small detached fair-weather cumuliform clouds that have nearly horizontal bases and flattened
tops, and do not produce rain showers.[36]Genus stratus (St):
• Stratus nebulosus translucidus
• This is a flat or sometimes ragged non-convective stratiform type that sometimes resembles elevated
fog.[37] Only very weak precipitation can fall from this cloud, usually drizzle or snow grains. [38][39] When a
low stratiform cloud contacts the ground, it is called fog if the prevailing surface visibility is less than 1
kilometer, although radiation and advection types of fog tend to form in clear air rather than from stratus
layers.[40] If the visibility increases to 1 kilometer or higher in any kind of fog, the visible condensation is
termed mist.[41]
• perlucidus over Galapagos, Tortuga Bay (see also 'species and varieties')
• Genus stratocumulus (Sc):
• This genus type is a stratocumuliform cloud layer of limited convection, usually in the form of
irregular patches or more extensive sheets similar to altocumulus but having larger elements
with deeper-gray shading.[34] Stratocumulus is often present during wet weather originating
from other rain clouds, but can only produce very light precipitation on its own.[35]Genus
cumulus (Cu); species humilis – little vertical extent:
• These are small detached fair-weather cumuliform clouds that have nearly horizontal bases and
flattened tops, and do not produce rain showers.[36]Genus stratus (St):
• Stratus nebulosus translucidus
• This is a flat or sometimes ragged non-convective stratiform type that sometimes resembles
elevated fog.[37] Only very weak precipitation can fall from this cloud, usually drizzle or snow
grains.[38][39] When a low stratiform cloud contacts the ground, it is called fog if the prevailing
surface visibility is less than 1 kilometer, although radiation and advection types of fog tend to
form in clear air rather than from stratus layers.[40] If the visibility increases to 1 kilometer or
higher in any kind of fog, the visible condensation is termed mist.[41]Multi-level (low to mid-
level cloud base)[edit]
• Moderate to deep vertical nimbostratus cloud covering the sky with a scattered layer of low
stratus fractus pannus (see also 'species' and 'supplementary features' sections)
• These clouds have low to middle level bases that form anywhere from
near surface to about 2,400 m (8,000 ft) and tops that can extend into
the high altitude range. Nimbostratus and some cumulus in this group
usually achieve moderate or deep vertical extent, but without towering
structure. However, with sufficient airmass instability, upward-
growing cumuliform clouds can grow to high towering proportions.
Although genus types with vertical extent are often informally
considered a single group,[42] the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO)distinguishes towering vertical clouds more
formally as a separate group or sub-group. It is specified that these
very large cumuliform and cumulonimbiform types must be identified
by their standard names or abbreviations in all aviation observations
(METARS) and forecasts (TAFS) to warn pilots of possible severe
weather and turbulence.[43] Multi-level clouds are of even larger
structure than low clouds, and are therefore identifiable by their
forms and genera, (and even species in the case of cumulus
congestus) using satellite photography.[23]