This article lists and describes all types of clouds.

Cloud types

Upper clouds formed in temperate latitudes above 5 km, in polar regions - above 3 km, in tropical regions - above 6 km. The temperature at this altitude is quite low, so they consist mainly of ice crystals. Upper clouds are usually thin and white. The most common form of upper clouds are cirrus (cirrus) and cirrostratus (cirrostratus), which can usually be observed in good weather.

Middle clouds usually located at an altitude of 2-7 km in temperate latitudes, 2-4 km in polar and 2-8 km in tropical latitudes. They consist mainly of small particles of water, but at low temperatures they can also contain ice crystals. The most common types of mid-tier clouds are altocumulus (altocumulus), altostratus (altostratus). They may have shaded portions, which distinguishes them from cirrocumulus clouds. This type of cloud usually results from air convection and also from the gradual rise of air ahead of a cold front.

Lower clouds located at altitudes below 2 km, where the temperature is quite high, so they consist mainly of water droplets. Only in the cold season. When the surface temperature is low, they contain particles of ice (hail) or snow. The most common types of low clouds are nimbostratus (nimbostratus) and stratocumulus (stratocumulus), dark low clouds accompanied by moderate precipitation.

Fig1. The main types of clouds: Cirrus, Ci), Cirrocumulus (Cirrocumulus, Cc), Cirrostratus, Cs, Altocumulus (Altocumulus, Ac), Altostratus, As, Altostratus translucidus , As trans) , Strato-nimbus (Nimbostratus, Ns), Stratus (Stratus, St) , Stratocumulus (Stratocumulus, Sc), Cumulus (Cumulus, Cu), Cumulonimbus (Cumulonimbus, Cb)

Pinnate (Cirrus, Ci)

They consist of separate pinnate elements in the form of thin white threads or white (or mostly white) tufts and elongated ridges. They have a fibrous structure and / or a silky sheen. They are observed in the upper troposphere, in the middle latitudes their bases most often lie at altitudes of 6-8 km, in the tropical from 6 to 18 km, in the polar from 3 to 8 km). Visibility within the cloud is 150-500 m. They are built from ice crystals large enough to have an appreciable falling speed; therefore, they have a significant vertical extent (from hundreds of meters to several kilometers). However, wind shear and differences in crystal size cause the filaments of cirrus clouds to be slanted and warped. These clouds are typical for leading edge cloud system warm front or front of occlusion associated with upward sliding. They often also develop in anticyclonic conditions, sometimes they are parts or remnants of ice tops (anvils) of cumulonimbus clouds.

There are different types: filiform(Cirrus fibratus, Ci fibr.), claw-like(Cirrus uncinus, Ci unc.), turret-shaped(Cirrus castellanus, Ci cast.), dense(Cirrus spissatus, Ci spiss.), flaky(Cirrus floccus, Ci fl.) and varieties: mixed up(Cirrus intortus, Ci int.), radial(Cirrus radiatus, Cirad.), spinal(Cirrus vertebratus, Ci vert.), double(Cirrus duplicatus, Ci dupl.).

Sometimes this genus of clouds, along with the described clouds, also includes cirrostratus And cirrocumulus clouds.

Cirrocumulus (Cirrocumulus, Cc)

They are often referred to as "lambs". Very high small globular clouds, elongated in a line. Look like the backs of mackerels or ripples on the coastal sand. The height of the lower border is 6-8 km, the vertical length is up to 1 km, the visibility inside is 5509-10000 m. They are a sign of an increase in temperature. Often observed together with cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. They are often the forerunners of storms. With these clouds, the so-called. "iridization" - iridescent coloring of the edge of the clouds.

Cirrostratus, Cs

Halo formed on cirrus clouds

Sail-like clouds of the upper tier, consisting of ice crystals. They have the appearance of a homogeneous, whitish veil. The height of the lower edge is 6-8 km, the vertical extent varies from several hundred meters to several kilometers (2-6 or more), visibility inside the cloud is 50-200 m. Cirrostratus clouds are relatively transparent, so the sun or moon can be clearly visible through them. These upper tier clouds usually form when large layers of air rise up through multilevel convergence.

Cirrostratus clouds are characterized by the fact that they often give the phenomena of a halo around the sun or moon. Halos are the result of the refraction of light by the ice crystals that make up the cloud. Cirrostratus clouds, however, tend to thicken as a warm front approaches, which means more ice crystal formation. As a result, the halo gradually disappears, and the sun (or moon) becomes less visible.

Altocumulus (Altocumulus, Ac)

Formation of altocumulus clouds.

Altocumulus (Altocumulus, Ac) - typical warm season cloud cover. Gray, white, or bluish clouds in the form of waves and ridges, consisting of flakes and plates separated by gaps. The height of the lower boundary is 2-6 km, the vertical length is up to several hundred meters, the visibility inside the cloud is 50-80 m. They are usually located above the places facing the sun. Sometimes they reach the stage of powerful cumulus clouds. Altocumulus clouds usually form when warm air masses rise, as well as when a cold front advances, which pushes warm air upwards. Therefore, the presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning portends the imminent appearance of thunderclouds or a change in the weather.

High-stratified (Altostratus, As)

Altostratus clouds

They look like a uniform or weakly expressed wavy veil of gray or bluish color, the sun and moon usually shine through, but weakly. The height of the lower boundary is 3-5 km, the vertical extent is 1-4 km, the visibility in the clouds is 25-40 m. These clouds consist of ice crystals, supercooled water drops and snowflakes. Altostratus clouds can bring heavy rain or snow.

High-layered translucent (Altostratus translucidus, As trans)

Altostratus clouds at sunset

Altostratus translucent clouds. The wavy structure of the cloud is noticeable, the solar circle of the sun is quite distinguishable. Quite distinguishable shadows can sometimes appear on the ground. Stripes are clearly visible. A veil of clouds, as a rule, gradually covers the entire sky. The height of the base is within 3-5 km, the thickness of the As trans cloud layer is on average about 1 km, occasionally up to 2 km. Precipitation falls, but in low and middle latitudes it rarely reaches the ground in summer.

Nimbostratus (Nimbostratus, Ns)

Layered rain clouds and strong air currents.

Nimbostratus clouds are dark gray, in the form of a continuous layer. During precipitation, it seems to be homogeneous; in the intervals between precipitation, some heterogeneity and even some undulation of the layer are noticeable. They differ from stratus clouds in their darker and bluish color, inhomogeneity of the structure and the presence of extensive precipitation. The height of the lower boundary is 0.1-1 km, the thickness is up to several kilometers.

Layered (Stratus, St)

Layered clouds.

Layered clouds form a homogeneous layer, similar to fog, but located at a height of hundreds or even tens of meters. Usually they cover the entire sky, but sometimes they can be observed in the form of broken cloud masses. The lower edge of these clouds can drop very low; sometimes they merge with ground fog. Their thickness is small - tens and hundreds of meters.

Stratocumulus (Stratocumulus, Sc)

Gray clouds, consisting of large ridges, waves, plates, separated by gaps or merging into a continuous gray wavy cover. Composed primarily of water droplets. The thickness of the layer is from 200 to 800 m. The sun and moon can only shine through the thin edges of the clouds. Precipitation usually does not fall. From stratocumulus clouds that are not translucent, weak, short-term precipitation may fall.

Cumulus clouds (Cumulus, Cu)

Cumulus clouds. View from above.

Cumulus clouds are dense, bright white clouds during the day with significant vertical development (up to 5 km or more). The upper parts of cumulus clouds look like domes or towers with rounded outlines. Cumulus clouds usually form as convection clouds in cold air masses.

Cumulonimbus (Cumulonimbus, Cb)

Cumulonimbus (Cumulonimbus capillatus incus)

Cumulonimbus - powerful and dense clouds with a strong vertical development (up to a height of 14 km), giving heavy rainfall with powerful hail and thunderstorms. Cumulonimbus clouds/clouds develop from powerful cumulus clouds. They can form a line called a squall line. The lower levels of cumulonimbus clouds are mostly water droplets, while the higher levels, where temperatures are well below 0°C, are dominated by ice crystals.

Depending on the height of the lower boundary and appearance, all clouds are divided into four groups - morphological classification:

I. Upper clouds- lower limit more than 6 km:

Pinnate, Cirrus (Ci) - , ;

Cirrostratus (Cs) - , ;

Cirrocumulus (Cc) - .

II. Middle clouds- lower limit from 2 to 6 km:

Highly stratified, Altostratus (As) - (dense), (thin);

Altocumulus (Ac) - (thin),

(spreading across the sky), (dense),

(lentil-shaped), (tower-shaped or flaky);

III. Lower clouds- lower limit less than 2 km:

Layered - rain, Nimbostratus (Ns) -;

Broken - rain, Fractonimbus (Fr nb) -;

Stratocumulus, Stratocumulus (Sc) -;

Layered, Stratus (St) -;

Fractured - stratified, Fractostratus (Fr st) - .

IV. Clouds of vertical development- the lower limit is less than 2 km, the upper limit - in the middle or upper tier:

Cumulus, Cumulus (Cu) - ;

Powerfully - cumulus, Cumulus congestus (Cu cong) -;

Cumulonimbus, Cumulonimbus (Cb) - (bald),

(with anvil).

According to the conditions of education - genetic classification Clouds are divided into three groups:

I. Cumulus clouds

Reason for education different kinds convection. These include: cumulus, powerful cumulus, cumulonimbus, high cumulus turret or flocculus, and cirrocumulus.

Cumulus clouds - These are small cloud masses. white color scattered across the sky in the form of heaps. The lower base of the clouds is flat at a height of 800...1500 m, the top is convex at a height of 2...3 km. They consist of drops of water, do not give precipitation. Over the continent, cumulus clouds form mainly during the warm season. Usually they appear at 10...12 o'clock, at 14...15 they reach their maximum development and are washed out by the evening. Vertically underdeveloped, flat cumulus clouds are called "fair weather clouds". Flight under the clouds and in the clouds is accompanied by a weak turbulence, because. speed of ascending streams 2…5 m/s. The clouds are located below the zero isotherm, so icing is not observed in them.

Powerfully - cumulus clouds- formed from cumulus clouds. At high air humidity (b > 10 g / m) and favorable conditions for the development of convection, cumulus clouds develop vertically, pass through the zero isotherm and become powerful - cumulus. The lower base of the clouds is flat, slightly grayish or bluish at an altitude of 600 ... 1000 m, the top is domed, white at an altitude of 4 ... 6 km. Powerful - cumulus clouds can be located in the form of individual rare clouds or in the form of a significant cluster covering almost the entire sky. Clouds are drip-liquid, but above the 0°C isotherm, water drops are in a supercooled state. Precipitation from powerful - cumulus clouds do not fall out. Updrafts prevail in the clouds, the speed of which reaches 10…15 m/s. Flights inside powerful cumulus clouds are prohibited by the governing documents due to strong turbulence throughout the cloud and intense icing above the zero isotherm.

Cumulonimbus clouds- huge mountainous cloud masses with dark bases and bright white tops, which, as a rule, have a fibrous structure. Vertically, cumulonimbus clouds can develop up to the tropopause, and sometimes break through the tropopause and wedged into the lower stratosphere. They are formed from powerful cumulus clouds with an absolute air humidity of more than 13 g / m or a water vapor pressure of more than 15 hPa. Under favorable conditions for the development of convection and a high moisture content of the air, powerfully - cumulus clouds continue to grow upward, and reach peaks of heights where the air temperature is so low that ice crystals begin to form in the clouds. Thus, the microstructure of cumulonimbus

mixed clouds - there are both water drops and ice crystals. The process of growing powerful - cumulus into cumulus - rain occurs very quickly, sometimes within 15 ... 20 minutes. A sign of such an overgrowth can be a change in the shape of a powerful cumulus cloud. As long as the developing cloud consists only of water droplets, it does not produce precipitation and has sharply defined contours. The top of the clouds looks like a head of cauliflower. As soon as the upper part of the cloud acquires a crystalline structure, it loses its sharp outlines, its edges begin to shaggy, and the top takes the form of an inverted broom (anvil). Ice crystals, being in the vicinity of supercooled water drops, quickly increase and begin to fall out of the cloud. From the moment of precipitation, the clouds become cumulonimbus. From cumulonimbus clouds fall showers in the form of rain, snow, grains, hail. Ascending speed

flows in the cloud can reach 30…40 m/s; due to heavy precipitation in cumulonimbus clouds, descending flows arise at a speed of 10 ... 15 m / s. The development of cumulonimbus clouds, and heavy rainfall is often accompanied by thunderstorms (), squalls () and tornadoes ().

Depending on the causes of formation, cumulonimbus clouds are intramass and frontal. Flying inside any Cb cloud is dangerous and prohibited by the governing documents for the following reasons:

Severe turbulence () from the lower boundary of the cloud (LGO) to the upper boundary of the cloud (VGO);

Intensive icing () at all heights above the zero isotherm;

A lightning discharge through the BC is possible;

Heavy precipitation () impairs visibility during takeoff and landing, and hail can damage individual parts of the aircraft in flight;

When flying in heavy rainfall (visibility less than 1000 m), a stall may occur;

Cumulonimbus clouds are often accompanied by squalls and tornadoes.

Altocumulus flaky or towering clouds they look like large flakes separated by gaps of the blue sky, or turrets planted on one common base. They are formed in the warm season, as a rule, in the morning hours, when an unstable air balance is observed in the middle troposphere. The NGO is 3…5 km, thickness - 200…500 m. They do not affect the flight directly, but they are a good sign of the formation of a thunderstorm in the daytime. At the same time, the more turrets or flakes, the closer the thunderstorm is in time.

Cirrocumulus clouds- white thin clouds that look like very small waves, flakes, lambs. They form at an altitude above 6 km, consist of ice crystals, the thickness of the clouds is 200 ... 300 m. They do not affect the flight.

II. stratus clouds

The reason for the formation is an upward slip. These include: stratified - rain, broken - rain, high - stratus, cirro - stratus and cirrus clouds.

Strato - rain clouds have the appearance of a dark gray cloud cover, as a rule, covering the entire sky. The height of the NGO is 300 ... 500 m or less. The vertical thickness ranges from a few hundred meters to several kilometers. These are mixed clouds with a water content of 0.6…1.3 g/m. Heavy precipitation falls out of them - long, medium intensity, occupying large areas: 200 ... 300 km in width and up to a thousand kilometers in length. The flight in such clouds is calm, but, above the zero isotherm, in the clouds, and in winter and in precipitation, icing of the aircraft is observed, the intensity of which depends on the water content of the cloud and air temperature. In precipitation, the NGO is washed out and can be located at a height of 100 m and lower, which makes it difficult to penetrate them during landing approach. In all seasons of the year, when flying in clouds, significant electrostatic charges can occur.

Torn - rain clouds are shapeless black stripes against a general gray background of stratus clouds. The reason for their formation is the saturation of cold air (CA) with heavy precipitation falling from stratified rain clouds, and the dynamic turbulence that occurs when the CCA moves along the unevenness of the underlying surface. Consist of supercooled droplets, sometimes ice crystals. OGO 50…100 m, thickness 100…200 m. Discontinuous rain clouds impede or exclude takeoff, landing and visual flights of the aircraft.

Altostratus clouds are a uniform gray shroud 1–2 km thick and have a large horizontal extent. The sun and the moon shine through them, as if through frosted glass. These are mixed clouds. Heavy precipitation can fall from them, which reach the ground only in winter in the form of snow. Therefore, in winter, the width of the precipitation zone increases to 400–500 km. When flying in highly stratified clouds, aircraft icing is observed, the intensity of which depends on the water content of the cloud and air temperature. The probability of icing in these clouds is greater in the warm season. Visibility in the clouds is poor - several tens of meters. During a long flight in them, the aircraft are charged with static electricity.

Cirrostratus clouds have the appearance of a uniform white or bluish veil covering the entire sky. The thickness of the clouds is from several hundred meters to several kilometers. Clouds are made up of ice crystals. The sun and moon shine through them, forming white or iridescent circles - a halo. It serves as a sign of the subsequent deterioration of the weather. When flying in clouds, the aircraft becomes electrified. Visibility is good.

Spindrift clouds- parallel stripes with front edges bent to the top in the form of hooks or claws, therefore they are called hook-shaped or claw-shaped. The clouds are crystalline, precipitation does not fall out of them. The thickness of the clouds is from several hundred meters to several kilometers. They are located ahead of the front line at a distance of 800 ... 1000 km and are harbingers of bad weather. The flight is calm, visibility is good, but during a long flight, the aircraft may become electrified.

III. Wavy clouds

They are formed due to: dynamic turbulence, wave motions of inversion and isotherm layers, radiation cooling of the underlying surface. These include: stratus, fractus stratus, stratocumulus, altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds. By appearance they represent a horizontally distributed layer of clouds in the form of ridges or individual shafts, the vertical development of which is characterized by multi-layeredness.

stratus clouds are characteristic of the cold season. They form under the inversion layer and look like a solid gray veil or broken cloud masses. The lower base is located at a height of 100 ... 300 m. Clouds can descend to the ground and turn into fog. From them fall drizzling precipitation. Flight in clouds and precipitation is accompanied by icing, the intensity of which depends on the water content of the cloud and air temperature. Due to their low altitude, stratus clouds make it difficult or impossible to take off, land, and visual flights.

Stratocumulus clouds have the appearance of a wavy thin or dense cloud layer. The height of the NGO is 600 ... 1000 m, and in winter - 300 ... 600 m. The thickness is several hundred meters. In cold weather, precipitation in the form of light snow can fall out of them. In the clouds, one can meet light or moderate icing and weak turbulence, which intensifies towards the VGO.

Altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds located, respectively, in the middle and upper tiers, they do not have a special effect on flights.

Precipitation called drops of water and ice crystals falling from clouds or settling from the air to the earth's surface. Main forms precipitation are: rain, snow, drizzle, sleet, snow or ice pellets, snow grains, hail, freezing rain, ice needles. Precipitation from the air includes: dew, frost, frost, solid and liquid deposits on the windward side of vertically located objects.

By the nature of the fallout precipitation is divided into: obligatory falling out of the system of frontal stratified rain and high stratus clouds; storm falling out of cumulonimbus clouds; drizzling falling out of stratus and stratocumulus clouds.

Deformed cirrocumulus clouds.

Sometimes rounded breaks can be observed in cirrocumulus clouds. Such a gap is formed when the temperature in the cloud is below zero, but the water has not yet had time to freeze. When water begins to freeze in one place, the nearby water vapor quickly evaporates and condenses on ice crystals. Ice crystals become heavy and under their own weight can settle to the ground. Thus, deformed cirrocumulus clouds are obtained.

Cirrostratus clouds (Cirrostratus, Cs) - a type of clouds of the upper tier.
Color: whitish, translucent.
Description and shape of the cloud . Cirrostratus clouds are in the form of a continuous veil high in the sky. In the presence of these clouds, the sun and moon float as if in a haze. The transparency of clouds can vary depending on the density of the cloud. At low density, the halo effect is also observed. The thickness of cirrostratus clouds can reach 2-6 kilometers.
Visibility inside the cloud : 50-200 meters.
Composition and education. The source of material for the formation of cirrostratus clouds is entire layers of air rising upward as a result of multilevel convergence. The cloud element is ice crystals.
Precipitation does not fall out of them, but thickening of cirrostratus clouds can serve as a harbinger of bad weather.

What are the middle tier clouds in shape:

  • altocumulus clouds,

  • altostratus clouds,

  • Altostratus translucent clouds.

Altocumulus (Altocumulus, Ac
Color : white, gray or bluish white.
Description and shape of the cloud . Altocumulus clouds are usually found in the summer. They are arranged in waves or in ridges in the form of flakes or plates. There are gaps between individual elements. Sometimes around these clouds there is a beautiful phenomenon called "iridization" . This is the iridescent coloration of the edge of the cloud.
Visibility inside the cloud : 50-80 meters.
Composition and education. Formed when warm air rises. The rise can be provoked by the onset of a cold front, which displaces air heated near the surface of the earth upward.
Cloud weather prediction. Appear after a thunderstorm or storm. They predict clear weather.

Altostratus clouds (Altostratus, As) - a type of middle tier clouds.
Color : gray or bluish.
Description and shape of the cloud . Altostratus clouds are in the form of a uniform or slightly wavy veil through which the sun and moon faintly shine through. Cloud height varies from one to four kilometers.
Visibility inside the cloud : 25-40 meters.
Composition and education. The main cloud elements are ice crystals, snowflakes, supercooled water.
Cloud weather prediction. Precipitation falls from altostratus clouds. This is heavy rain or snow.

Altostratus translucent clouds (Altostratus translucidus, As trans) - a type of middle tier clouds .
Color : white-bluish.
Description and shape of the cloud . Clearly visible translucent wavy stripes. The solar and lunar disks are quite distinct. Despite this, they cast a faint shadow on the ground. Bottom line of these clouds is located at an altitude of 3-5 km. The height of the cloud array is 1-2 km. Gradually cover the entire sky with a continuous veil.
Cloud weather prediction. Precipitation also falls from altostratus translucent clouds, but in summer period rarely reach earth's surface.

What are the clouds of the lower tier in shape:

  • layered clouds,

  • stratocumulus clouds,

  • Cumulus clouds.

Stratus clouds (Stratus, St) - a type of clouds of the lower tier.
Color : dark gray or light gray.
Description and shape of the cloud . Layered clouds are in the form of a homogeneous whitish veil that covers the entire sky and looks like fog. The height of the cloud is small - from several tens to hundreds of meters. Bottom part can fall very low, and then the cloud merges with the fog. Formed in the lower troposphere.
: 100-400 meters, sometimes drops to 30-90.
Cloud weather prediction. Stratus clouds occasionally produce precipitation. It's drizzle or snow grains, depending on the season.

Stratocumulus clouds (Stratocumulus, Sc) - a type of clouds of the lower tier.
Color : grey.
Description and shape of the cloud . Stratocumulus clouds are in the form of massive ridges, waves, plates. They can be both with gaps, and tighten the sky with a continuous wavy veil. The height of the cloud layer is from 200 to 800 meters. Quite dense, the sun shines through only at the edges of the clouds.
Height above ground : 500 to 1800 meters.
Compound . The main cloud element is water drops.
Cloud weather prediction. Precipitation is possible only occasionally, and even then short.

Striped stratocumulus clouds.
Color : grey.
Description and shape of the cloud . A variety of stratocumulus clouds. They are notable for the fact that they are located in the sky in the form of regular rows or waves separated by gaps.
Height above ground : 500 to 1800 meters.
Compound . The cloud element is water drops.
Cloud weather prediction. Most often they portend good weather.

Cumulus clouds (Cumulus, Cu) - a type of clouds of the lower tier.
Color : bright white.
Description and shape of the cloud . Dense, elongated clouds. The upper part of cumulus clouds is rounded or in the form of round turrets.
Height above ground : from 800 to 1500 meters, occasionally more than two kilometers.
Cloud weather prediction. If they are located separately, far from each other, then to good weather. But if the cumulus clouds are large and multi-storey, then there may be a heavy downpour.

What are the clouds of vertical development in shape:

  • nimbostratus clouds,

  • Cumulonimbus clouds.

Nimbostratus clouds (Nimbostratus, Ns) - a type of clouds of vertical development.
Color : dark gray, with a bluish tint.
Description and shape of the cloud . Clouds cover the earth in a continuous veil. Nimbostratus clouds are heterogeneous structure, sometimes wavy. The thickness of the layer is up to several kilometers. They differ from stratus clouds in their heterogeneous structure, which becomes blurred during rain or snow. But in the intervals between precipitation, the heterogeneity again becomes discernible.
Height above ground : 100 to 1900 meters.
Cloud weather prediction. They produce heavy rainfall.

Cumulonimbus (Cumulonimbus, Cb) - type of clouds of vertical development .
Color : thick dark grey.
Description and shape of the cloud . Powerful dense clouds reaching a height of more than 10 km. Clouds are preceded by a squally wind, a hurricane. They are distinguished by a flat top - an "anvil", consisting of ice crystals.
Height above ground : up to 2000 meters.
Compound . At the base - water drops, and at the top, where the temperature is much lower - ice crystals.
Cloud weather prediction. Cumulonimbus clouds are the harbinger of bad weather. They bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail is possible.

This completes the enumeration of the main types and the shape of the clouds, but there are other, rarer types. They cannot be assigned to any of the above categories, therefore they are considered separately. In the next article, we will answer the question: What other clouds are there?

It was the article "Types and forms of clouds. What are clouds?" Read further:

Sometimes they cover the firmament in the form of a continuous veil, sometimes they appear in the form of isolated cloud masses, sometimes very powerfully developing in height, sometimes they have a relatively delicate structure, sometimes in the form of stripes or feathers of a fibrous structure, sometimes in the form of white small lambs, or scales, etc. The density of clouds largely depends on their height. The thickest and most powerful clouds usually float on high altitude below two kilometers. The higher the clouds float, the thinner and more transparent their structure becomes. All the clouds that we observe in the sky usually float in a layer from the surface to a height of 10-12 kilometers.

Our idea of ​​the weather is usually closely connected with the picture of the firmament, that is, with the forms and number of clouds observed in the sky.

Lower clouds

Fog

When the process of condensation of water vapor occurs in the lowest layers, the resulting cloud is located near the surface of the earth. It directly surrounds us and appears to us in the form of fog. In general, any cloud, if you are inside it, for example, on a mountain or when flying in an airplane, appears to the observer in the form of fog.

stratus clouds

Everyone knows the picture of clouds in gloomy gray weather, when the sky is covered with a continuous, completely uniform gray cloud cover, relatively low above the ground. It gives the impression of a raised fog. usually does not shine through this veil at all. Sometimes a light drizzle falls out of it in the form of fine water dust, while in winter sometimes the smallest rare snowflakes. These are the so-called stratus clouds (the international name is Stratus or abbreviated as St). Essentially, these clouds represent fog raised above the surface of the earth. They usually swim not high - sometimes at a height of a hundred or several hundred meters, usually not more than a kilometer.

In some cases, stratus clouds are torn into separate pieces with ragged edges. Then they are called stratus clouds (the international name is Fracto-Stratus or FrSt for short).

Nimbostratus clouds

Consider another picture of the sky. Bad weather. It's raining, but not one that breaks out quickly in the form of a downpour, and quickly passes, but rain (snow in winter), which, as they say, “charged for a long time” and over a large area (it is called a heavy rain). It may happen that there is no rain yet, but the very sight of the clouds makes one expect it soon. The clouds have the appearance of a low dark gray layer, almost uniform, so that only in some places this layer seems darker, in other places it is a little lighter. These typical inclement weather clouds are called nimbostratus or colloquially rain clouds (the international name is Nimbo-Stratus or NbSt for short).

Stratocumulus clouds

Stratocumulus clouds (international name Strato-Cumulus, abbr. StCu) should not be confused with the latter form of clouds, which appear as stretching dark cloud banks or spherical masses that give the sky a wavy appearance. Usually the cover of stratocumulus clouds is not continuous, but with gaps between individual shafts. These clouds are usually not accompanied by precipitation. They are most often found in winter time year, although they occur in the summer. In their form, they are, as it were, transitional from the stratus clouds described above to cumulus clouds, on which we will dwell.

Cumulus clouds

Let us now consider the form of clouds, common to good summer day. In the morning the sky is completely clear; but at about 8-10 o'clock light, white clouds begin to appear in the sky in some places. They grow rapidly both to the sides and, mainly, upwards. Their base is almost horizontal, while the tops have a dome-like appearance with separate, usually sharply defined bulges at the top. Illuminated by the sun, they appear to the observer of dazzling whiteness. If they are between the observer and the sun, they appear dark in the middle part.

These clouds grow during the day, but by the evening they usually begin to melt and gradually disappear. They are called cumulus (international name Cumulus, abbreviated Cu).

Thunderclouds

Sometimes clouds, which initially look like cumulus clouds, grow so intensely that they reach enormous sizes (often up to several kilometers), take the form of mountains or huge towers. The very top of the cloud often begins to take on a fibrous structure instead of the shape of bulges, and sometimes it looks like an anvil. Such clouds usually bring with them thunderstorms, downpours and hail, and in winter heavy snowfalls. They are called cumulonimbus clouds (international name Cumulo-Nimbus, abbreviated CuNb); when they are accompanied by thunderstorms, they are colloquially referred to as thunderstorms.

The five forms of clouds we have considered - stratus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus, cumulus and cumulonimbus are called "lower clouds". They float relatively low above the ground, so that their base is no higher than 2000 meters. For stratus clouds, the limiting level of the lower base is approximately two times less (usually they float no higher than 1000 meters). The clouds of the lower tier differ from other forms of clouds (middle and upper tiers) described below in their density and power, visibly obscuring the sun. In addition, floating at a relatively low altitude, they often create a well-known difficulty in flying. Flight in cumulonimbus clouds is further hampered by the fact that these clouds are often accompanied by whirlwinds and generally restless air movements.

Middle clouds

Let us now turn to the consideration of higher clouds, to the so-called "middle tier" clouds.

Altostratus clouds

A continuous cloud cover of the sky in the form of a grayish or bluish veil can also be located much higher than 1000 meters, that is, above the limit level at which ordinary stratus clouds float. This veil is usually so transparent that it makes it possible to distinguish the sun or moon as a more or less blurred spot. Such cloud cover is called altostratus clouds (international name Alto-Stratus, abbreviated as AlSt). Altostratus clouds, becoming denser, can gradually turn into nimbostratus clouds, which have more dark color completely covering the sun or moon. Overcast rain or snow sometimes falls from the layer of altostratus clouds.

Altocumulus clouds

These clouds have an international name - Aito-Cumuius, abbreviated as A-Cu. In appearance, they correspond to the cumulus clouds of the lower tier, although they differ from them in a much lower power, more delicate structure, and swim much higher. To the observer, altocumulus clouds appear as white caps, sometimes as small flakes of snow, or small rounded flakes of cotton wool, often approaching a spherical shape, with fairly distinct edges, or as flakes. Their thickness is so insignificant that they almost do not obscure the sun, due to which they appear uniformly white in the sky without shadows. These lambs, flakes or scales are usually arranged in connected groups or rows on the palate. Sometimes they appear as parallel bands or waves, which seem (due to "perspective") to converge at the horizon. Altocumulus clouds also belong to the clouds of the so-called "middle" tier. They usually swim at an altitude between 2000 and 6000 meters.

Upper clouds

The highest cloud forms or upper clouds include three forms: cirrocumulus, cirrostratus, and cirrus.

cirrocumulus clouds

These clouds have the international name Cirro-Cumulus, abbreviated as CiCu. In transitional forms, they sometimes resemble in miniature high cumulus clouds, with which they can be confused. To the observer, cirrocumulus clouds appear as very small white flakes or miniature snowballs arranged in regular groups or rows, or as ripples in the sand. They sometimes form from the cirrostratus or cirrus clouds described below, and have a fibrous structure. They are of such a delicate structure that on their lower side they do not give a completely shadow.

Cirrostratus clouds

Similar to stratus clouds in the lower tier and high stratus in the middle, in the upper tier there is also a cloud form in the form of a continuous homogeneous veil, the so-called cirrostratus clouds (international name Cirro-Stratus or abbreviated CiSt). These clouds cover the sky with a solid whitish veil, completely washed out and giving the sky a whitish tint. Through this veil the sun can be seen so clearly that the edges of their discs are perfectly distinct and not blurred. characteristic feature cirrostratus clouds are the appearance of circles in the sky near the sun or moon.

Spindrift clouds

Sometimes very delicate individual clouds of a fibrous or filamentous structure are observed in the sky at high altitude. They come in a wide variety of shapes, either in the form of feathers or ponytails, or in the form of thin flakes of cotton wool with a fibrous structure, or in the form of threads or light, transparent strokes of white paint on a blue sky. Sometimes individual clouds are randomly scattered across the sky, sometimes they are bizarrely entangled with each other or arranged in the form of parallel stripes crossing the entire sky or part of it, and, due to perspective, such stripes seem to converge with each other. Such clouds are called cirrus (the international name is Cirrus or Ci for short).

Cirrus clouds are the highest of the upper clouds.

In general, the clouds of the upper tier are usually located at levels above 6,000 meters.

In our latitudes, the upper boundary of the layer of air where the highest "cirrus" clouds form extends to about 11-12 kilometers. Rarely, they are seen slightly higher.

The highest clouds

The layer of the atmosphere from the earth's surface to a height of about 11 kilometers (in our latitudes) called the "troposphere" is characterized by the fact that it decreases with increasing altitude. In the overlying layer, called the "stratosphere", the drop in temperature with height stops. Thus, all clouds observed in the sky float in the troposphere. In the higher layers of the atmosphere, clouds of the usual type are not observed at all.

noctilucent clouds

However, in rare cases, sometimes at enormous heights, faintly luminous, so-called "silvery clouds" appear, the origin of which is still largely mysterious. They are observed in the sky after sunset, when its rays continue obliquely to illuminate the upper layers of the atmosphere in which these clouds float, which is why they seem to glow on dark background sky after sunset.

These clouds were discovered in 1885 shortly after the huge eruption of the Krakatoa volcano (between the islands of Java and Sumatra) in 1883. They floated at an exceptionally high altitude: about 70-80 kilometers. Some scientists have suggested that these clouds are the products of a volcanic eruption thrown to a huge height, consisting mainly of ice crystals formed from water vapor thrown out during the eruption. Reflecting the sun's rays, they seem to us luminous. However, in the last century (starting from 1926), noctilucent clouds began to be observed again in the sky, but already at a much lower height, namely about 28 kilometers.

Observations of the appearance of noctilucent clouds are important in the sense that they may help to resolve the still mysterious question of the causes of their origin.

Another trip to our beloved global network puzzled me. The more I read, the more I understand how the most simple and banal things can be interesting.

Take at least the clouds. Who didn't dream of riding them as a child? We believed it was possible. After all, they are definitely soft and pleasant to the touch.

Later, when studying physics, each of us was disappointed when we learned the nature of clouds. It turned out that the clouds are not soft, fluffy and pleasant. These are droplets of water or ice crystals in the atmosphere. They are also often referred to as cloud elements. Moreover, it turns out that at different temperatures the composition of clouds can be different. Clouds are made up of water droplets if the air temperature exceeds ?10 °C. These are ordinary rain clouds. If it is lower than this, but higher? 15 ° C, then the composition of the clouds includes both droplets and small crystals. By the way, it is these clouds that send us sleet or snow with rain. When the temperature in the cloud is below −15 °C, the cloud consists entirely of crystals, which turn into snowflakes.

However, in a cloud, the crystals and droplets are very small. And where do the huge flakes of snow and large drops of spring rain come from? Everything is quite simple. Gradually, the number of elements in the cloud increases. The elements merge with each other, forming droplets and snowflakes. Clouds increase and when a critical mass is reached, precipitation begins to fall.

Precipitation usually does not fall from homogeneous clouds, but from those that have a mixed composition of at least one layer. These are, for example, cumulonimbus, stratified-nimbus, high-stratified. Although light precipitation in the form of drizzle or light fine snow can also fall from homogeneous clouds, for example, from stratus.

Most often, clouds form and are observed in the lower layer of the atmosphere, called the troposphere. Rarely clouds are observed at an altitude of 20-25 kilometers. Such clouds have received a special name - mother-of-pearl clouds. Very rarely, clouds climb to a height of 70-80 kilometers. They also have their own name - silver.

Despite the huge number of all kinds of bizarre forms of clouds in the traposphere, classifying them is quite simple. Even in appearance.

Cirrus clouds (Cirrus, Ci).

In appearance, these are perhaps the lightest and most fragile clouds. They consist of thin white threads or shreds. Such clouds always have the form of elongated ridges. These are perhaps the highest altitude trapospheric clouds. They are usually observed in the upper layers of the traposphere (from 3 to 18 km above the earth, depending on latitudes). These clouds are notable for the fact that they can be quite large vertically (from hundreds of meters to several kilometers). Visibility inside the clouds is not very high: only 150-500 meters. The reason for this is that such clouds consist of fairly large ice crystals. Because of this, they have a noticeable fall rate. However, because of the wind, we see not vertical stripes, but shifted and intricately curved threads of cirrus clouds.

Interestingly, such clouds often move ahead of the warm air mass. They also often accompany anticyclones. And sometimes they are even banal remnants of cumulonimbus clouds.

It is very interesting that the appearance of such clouds may indicate the upcoming strong pouring rain in about a day.

Cirrus clouds are also divided into several subspecies.

Cirrocumulus (Cirrocumulus, Cc).

These clouds are located as high as the previous view. From such clouds, we will never see precipitation. It is interesting at the same time that when such a cloud appears, we can safely say that a thunderstorm with a downpour is possible in a few hours. And sometimes a storm.

Such clouds are called "lambs" for their bizarre shapes in the form of small groups or rows of balls. Very often observed with pinnately stratified and pinnate.

The height of the bottom border is slightly higher than the previous view. It extends about 6-8 kilometers from the earth. The vertical length reaches a kilometer. However, visibility inside is much higher than cirrus clouds - from 5.5 to 10 kilometers.

Pi such clouds are observed very interesting phenomenon- iridization. It lies in the fact that the edges of the clouds acquire a rainbow color, which in itself is very beautiful.

Cirrostratus clouds (Cirrostratus, Cs).

These clouds are made up of ice crystals. They are very easy to recognize: they are a uniform whitish veil covering the sky. They usually appear almost immediately after the cirrus counterparts. Although their height is the same as in the previous species, they are much longer vertically than their counterparts. Their length ranges from 2 to 6 kilometers. Visibility inside the cloud is very low: from 50 to 200 meters. Like the previous two types, the appearance of such clouds promises an imminent change in the weather. They are followed by showers and thunderstorms. Why, you ask? Yes, everything is simple. All of the above types of clouds move ahead of a warm air mass, in which there is a lot of moisture. And she, in turn, is the source of rain.

Despite the fact that the clouds cover the sky with a veil, the light of the Sun and the Moon can pass through them. In this case, the rays are often distorted and such an interesting phenomenon as a halo is formed. It is a luminous ring around the Sun or Moon. But, unfortunately, this beautiful phenomenon is very short-lived, as the clouds begin to thicken very quickly.

An interesting fact is that the halo circle among the people was an omen of the coming rain. People believed that it was the Moon or the Sun that washed. And after the water procedures, the luminaries, according to a sign, poured soda on the ground.

Altostratus clouds (Altostratus, As).

Outwardly, they are a gloomy grayish or blue-gray veil, through which the sun sometimes peeps, although in the form of a shapeless blurry spot.

These clouds live, so to speak, lower than their counterparts already considered at about 3-5 kilometers above sea level. But they are also quite long vertically - from 1 to 4 kilometers. Visibility in them is very small - 25-40 meters. The composition of these clouds is not uniform. It includes both crystals and droplets of water, however, supercooled.

Unlike all of the above species, these clouds always fall in the form of rain or snow at any time of the year. Interestingly, the rain from such clouds does not reach the ground, but evaporates during the flight.

These clouds are followed by stratified rain brothers.

Altocumulus (Altocumulus, Ac).

These clouds are harbingers of early showers. They are in the form of small balls or plastins, which are arranged in rows or collected in individual groups. Their colors are very different: from white to blue. Their length is small - only a few hundred meters. Visibility is also rather weak: only 50-70 meters. They are located in the middle layers of the stratosphere, about 2 to 6 kilometers above the earth. In addition to rain, such clouds bring cooling with them.

Nimbostratus clouds (Nimbostratus, Ns).

These are gloomy dark gray clouds that are a continuous layer. It seems that there is no end to it. Cloudy skies everywhere, from which it constantly pours rain. This goes on for quite some time.

They are much darker than their layered counterparts. Unlike all the clouds described above, these are located in the lower layers of the stratosphere. They hover almost above the ground at a distance of 100 meters, although their thickness can be up to several kilometers.

The movement of these clouds is accompanied by a strong and cold wind, the temperature drops.

Stratus clouds (Stratus, St).

This type of cloud is very similar to fog. They are located very low above the ground. The lower limit does not exceed hundreds of meters. Sometimes, when the clouds are flying very low, they can merge with normal fog.

Their maximum thickness is hundreds of meters. These clouds don't always bring rain. As soon as they thicken and get stronger, they will shed precious moisture on the ground. In this case, the rain will not be very strong and much shorter than the rain of nimbostratus clouds.

Stratocumulus clouds (Stratocumulus, Sc).

Such clouds do not always bring precipitation. They form when cold air replaces warm air. In this case, moisture is not released, but rather absorbed. And there is no rain. They are mostly gray in color and are presented in the form of large waves and ridges, between which there are small gaps. They have an average width of 200-800 meters.

Cumulus clouds (Cumulus, Cu).

Sometimes they are called messengers of good weather. This is the type of cloud we see most often. White, bright, in the form of all kinds of figures, they amaze and develop our imagination. They have the form of a dome with a flat base or towers with rounded outlines. It is noteworthy that they are very wide - up to 5 kilometers or more.

Cumulonimbus clouds (Cumulonimbus, Cu).

These are very powerful clouds. Sometimes their width reaches 14 kilometers. These are clouds of thunderstorms, showers, hail and heavy wind. Most often, the word "clouds" is applied to these clouds. Sometimes they line up in the so-called squall line. Interestingly, the composition of the clouds varies depending on the height. If the lower layers consist mainly of water droplets, then the upper layers consist of ice crystals. They develop from powerful cumulus clouds, and their appearance does not bode well.

By the way, there are clouds not only on our planet. It turns out that wherever there is a gaseous shell, there are also clouds. But they do not consist of water, but, for example, of sulfuric acid.

Here is a video showing different clouds: (amazingly beautiful!)

Well, perhaps that's all I wanted to write about these white-maned horses this time.