Clouds & Types

Clouds form from water in the sky. The water may evaporate from the ground or move from other areas. Water vapor, in some amount, is always present in the sky, even though it may be invisible.

Why are Clouds Important?

Rain or snow requires clouds.
At nights, clouds reflect heat and play an important role in keeping the temperature warm.
In the daytime, clouds help keep the temperature cooler by acting as a protection against the sun rays.
By studying more about clouds, we can get a broader understanding of weather and climate.

What are the types of Clouds?

Types of Clouds	Altitude at which they are present	Characteristics
High Clouds	High clouds are found above 6000 metres or 20,000 feet from the surface of the Earth	High clouds are also known as Cirrus Clouds High .clouds are relatively thinHigh clouds are made of ice High clouds do not produce rainfall High clouds indicate good weather
Middle Clouds	Middle clouds are known to form between 2000 metres to 6000 m or 6500 feet from the surface of the Earth..	Middle cloud is also known as Alto clouds Middle .clouds often produce a VirgaMiddle clouds often indicate a near-approaching storm
Low Clouds	Low clouds occur at altitudes below 2000 metres or 6500 feet from the surface of the Earth	Low clouds are also called Stratus Clouds. Low clouds can appear cottony, bright white interspersed in the blue skyLow clouds also sometimes appear dark, dense, or rainy
Great Vertical Extent Clouds	Great Vertical Extent Clouds are found to occur at very high altitudes	Great Vertical Extent clouds are also called Storm Clouds .Great Vertical Extent clouds can sometimes occur well above the level of jet flights Great Vertical Extent clouds have dramatic characteristics

What are Nimbus Clouds?

Nimbus clouds are black or dark gray. They form at middle levels or very near to the surface of the earth.
These are extremely dense and opaque to the rays of the sun.
Sometimes, the clouds are so low that they seem to touch the ground.
Nimbus clouds are shapeless masses of thick vapour.

What Are Cumulus Clouds?

Cumulus clouds are the mid-altitude clouds that look like floating pieces of fluffy cotton.
They are usually bright white.
They appear at altitudes of only 1000 metres or 3300 feet above the Earth’s Surface.
The top of the Cumulus always has rounded, dome-like edges.

What Are Stratus Clouds?

he Stratus Clouds look like a huge grey or dull coloured blanket hanging low in the sky.
They appear at low altitudes.
They often resemble fog and have a composition of a uniform layer.
When Stratus Clouds warm up, they indicate rain, and if they cool down, it means snowfall might happen.
Only when the layer of Stratus cloud breaks open, the blue sky becomes visible.

What Are Cirrus Clouds?

Cirrus clouds typically occur at high altitudes, approximately 6000 meters or 20,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. They are white, filament-like and thin.
They appear mostly as delicate white patches or narrow bands.
Cirrus clouds may also appear fibrous and silky like hair strands. Ice-crystals are always the main composition of Cirrus Clouds.
Cirrus clouds typically exist at high altitudes, around 6000 meters or 20,000 feet above the Earth’s surface.