Types of Clouds

According to the World Meteorological Organization's International Cloud Atlas, more

than 100 types of clouds exist. The many variations, however, can be grouped into one
of 10 basic types depending on their general shape and height in the sky. Thus, the 10
types are:
Low-level clouds (cumulus, stratus, stratocumulus) that lie below 6,500 feet
(1,981 m)
Middle clouds (altocumulus, nimbostratus, altostratus) that form between
6,500 and 20,000 feet (1981–6,096 m)
High-level clouds (cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus) that form above 20,000
feet (6,096 m)
Cumulonimbus, which tower across the low, middle, and upper atmosphere

(1) Cumulus
It’s the most recognizable out of all the types of clouds. Their tops are rounded, puffy,
and brilliant white when in sunlight, while their bottoms are flat and relatively dark.
Cumulus clouds are a sign of fair weather, though they may discharge rain sometimes
in form of a light shower. You can find them virtually everywhere in the world expected
for the Polar regions. Cumulus clouds develop on clear, sunny days when the sun heats
the ground directly below (diurnal convection). They appear in the late morning, grow,
and then disappear toward evening.
(2) Stratus
Stratus clouds are composed of thin layers of clouds covering a large area of the sky.
This is simply mist or fog when it forms close to the ground. You can easily distinguish a
stratus cloud by the long horizontal layers of the cloud which have a fog-like
appearance. Stratus clouds are very common all over the world most especially in the
coastal and mountainous regions. Stratus clouds hang low in the sky as a flat,
featureless, uniform layer of grayish cloud.
(3) Stratocumulus
Stratocumulus looks like a thick white blanket of stretched-out cotton. Stratocumulus—
these are low, puffy, grayish or whitish clouds that occur in patches with blue sky visible
in between. The base is well-defined and flat but the upper part of the cloud is ragged
due to convection with the cloud itself. You're likely to see stratocumulus on mostly
cloudy days. They form when there's weak convection in the atmosphere.
(4) Altocumulus
Altocumulus clouds are the most common clouds in the middle atmosphere. They
usually appear between lower stratus clouds and higher cirrus clouds. You'll recognize
them as white or gray patches that dot the sky in large, rounded masses or clouds that
are aligned in parallel bands. Altocumulus are often spotted on warm and humid
mornings, especially during summer. They can signal thunderstorms to come later in
the day.
(5) Nimbostratus
The name Nimbostratus comes from the Latin words nimbus which means “rain”
and stratus for “spread out”. These gloomy clouds are the heavy rain bearers out there
forming thick layers of clouds and covering the sky in a dark gray layer that can
completely block out the sun. They can extend from the low and middle layers of the
atmosphere. Nimbostratus clouds form as a result of the gradual accumulation of moist
area over a large area as the warm frontal system lifts the warm and moist area higher
up in the atmosphere where it condenses.
(6) Altostratus

Altostratus appears as gray or bluish-gray sheets of cloud that partially or totally cover
the sky at mid-levels. Even though they cover the sky, you can typically still see the sun

as a dimly lit disk behind them, but not enough light shines through to cast shadows on
the ground. Altostratus often spread over thousands of square miles and is strongly

linked to light rain or snow.

(7) Cirrus
Cirrus is one of the most common types of clouds that can be seen at any time of the
year. Like their name suggests (which is Latin for "curl of hair"), cirrus are thin, white,
wispy strands of clouds that streak across the sky. Because cirrus clouds appear above
20,000 feet (6,096 m)—an altitude where low temperatures and low water vapor exist—
they are made up of tiny ice crystals rather than water droplets. Cirrus typically occurs in
fair weather.
(8) Cirrocumulus
Cirrocumulus clouds are among the most gorgeous out there. Cirrocumulus clouds are
small, white patches of clouds often arranged in rows that live at high altitudes and are
made of ice crystals. These usually form at about 5 km above the surface with small
white fluff patterns that spread out for miles and miles over the sky.

(9) Cirrostratus
Cirrostratus clouds have a sheet-like appearance that can look like a curly blanket
covering the sky. They’re quite translucent (transparent) making it easy for the sun or
the moon to peer through. Their color varies from light gray to white and the fibrous
bands can vary widely in thickness. Create hollow effects around the sun.

(10) Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus clouds are one of the few clouds that span the low, middle, and high
layers. At the low-altitude base, the cloud is mostly made of water droplets but the
high-altitude summit is dominated by ice crystals. They resemble the cumulus clouds
from which they grow, except they rise into towers with bulging upper portions that
look like cauliflower. Cumulonimbus cloud tops are usually always flattened in the
shape of an anvil or plume. Their bottoms are often hazy and dark. Thunderstorm
clouds and associated with heavy rainfall, hailstorm, thunder, lightning.