What are the 4 major types of clouds?
The Four Core Types of Clouds
- Cirro-form. The Latin word ‘cirro’ means curl of hair.
- Cumulo-form. Generally detached clouds, they look like white fluffy cotton balls.
- Strato-form. From the Latin word for ‘layer’ these clouds are usually broad and fairly wide spread appearing like a blanket.
- Nimbo-form.
What is stratus cirrus cumulus and Nimbus?
The list of cloud types groups all genera as high (cirro-, cirrus), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbo-, cumulo-, cumulus), and low (strato-, stratus). These groupings are determined by the altitude level or levels in the troposphere at which each of the various cloud types is normally found.
What are the 10 clouds called?
The foundation consists of 10 major cloud types. In addition to cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and nimbus clouds, there are cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, and cumulonimbus clouds.
What are the 3 principal cloud groups?
There are three main cloud types.
What are the 5 names of the low-level clouds?
Clouds with a base below 6,500 ft including cumulus, cumulonimbus, stratocumulus and stratus.
What are black clouds called?
Nimbostratus clouds are dark, gray clouds that seem to fade into falling rain or snow. They are so thick that they often blot out the sunlight.
What are the 8 main types of clouds?
Types of Clouds
- High cloud – cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus.
- Middle cloud – altostratus, altocumulus, nimbostratus.
- Low cloud – stratus, stratocumulus.
- Vertical – cumulus, cumulonimbus.
What is the biggest cloud in the sky?
Noctilucent clouds are composed of tiny crystals of water ice up to 100 nm in diameter and exist at a height of about 76 to 85 km (249,000 to 279,000 ft), higher than any other clouds in Earth’s atmosphere.
What’s a storm cloud called?
Cumulonimbus clouds are menacing looking multi-level clouds, extending high into the sky in towers or plumes. More commonly known as thunderclouds, cumulonimbus is the only cloud type that can produce hail, thunder and lightning.
What clouds produce snow?
Thick, dense stratus or stratocumulus clouds producing steady rain or snow often are referred to as nimbostratus clouds. In contrast to layered, horizontal stratus, cumulus clouds are more cellular (individual) in nature, have flat bottoms and rounded tops, and grow vertically.
What are GREY clouds called?
Stratus clouds are uniform and flat, producing a gray layer of cloud cover which may be precipitation-free or may cause periods of light precipitation or drizzle.
What clouds produce tornadoes?
Cumulonimbus These are sometimes called anvil clouds because of the way the upper-level winds shear the tops of the clouds and push them to one side. Meaning: Strong thunderstorms are likely and severe storms are possible. Hail, high winds and tornadoes could accompany any severe thunderstorms that develop.