1. Types of Clouds

2. Cloud Formation
Clouds form when water condenses around a condensation nucleus (dust, pollen, smoke, etc.)
These form droplets that grow due to more condensation until there are many droplets and the condensation process becomes balanced
Clouds are clumps of water droplets or ice crystals that are dense enough for us to see

3. Cloud Formation
Clouds form as air rises either due to convection currents caused by heat from land masses, lifting over air masses, or from topography

4. Types of Clouds There are three basic types of clouds:
Cirrus = high, thin, white clouds that look wispy
Cumulus = have flat base and fluffy rounded tops, can see individual clouds
Stratus = sheets of cloud that have no distinct individual clouds and cover the sky in layers
See Fig and 12.15

5. High Clouds
There are three main types of clouds seen high (above 6000m) in the atmosphere:
Cirrocumulus = fluffy masses
Cirrostratus = flat layers
Cirrus = wispy filaments

6. Middle Clouds
Clouds seen in the middle part of the atmosphere ( m) are prefixed with alto
They include:
Altocumulus = larger fluffy masses
Altostratus = sheet of clouds, either white or grey, will cause light precipitation

7. Low Clouds Low clouds form below 2000m They include:
Stratus = uniform layer that can produce light precipitation
Stratocumulus = like stratus clouds, but fluffier and in patches
Nimbostratus = layer of thick grey clouds, make lots of precip. in stable conditions

8. Clouds with Vertical Development
Cumulus = fluffy white clouds seen on sunny days
Cumulus clouds can undergo vertical development (they get taller) due to unstable conditions and form cumulonimbus clouds
These are very tall (past 6000m), have an anvil head and create thunderstorms

9. Types of Clouds