Advanced Cloud Types

Learn how the three basic cloud types can be mixed

together to create many other cloud formations.
 Three Basic Cloud Types
You have already learned about the three basic
cloud types. These clouds are kind of like the three
primary colors.
Red

Cirrus

Yellow

Cumulus
Blue

Stratus
Primary and Secondary Colors
When you mix two of the primary colors together,
you create a new secondary color.

+ = Orange

+ = Green

+ = Purple
Primary and Secondary Clouds
It is much the same for clouds. When you mix the three
primary cloud types together, you create new, secondary
clouds.

= new cloud type

+

+ = new cloud type

Example 1: Cumulonimbus
When we put these two words together, it makes
a new type of cloud. Can you guess what a
cumulonimbus cloud will look like?

cumulus + nimbus = cumulonimbus

Remember, the word nimbus means “rain” or “dark

rain cloud,” and the word cumulus means “heap” or
“pile.”
Example 1: Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus clouds look like a big

“heap” or “pile” of “dark rain clouds.” They
can grow to become very large and they
bring lots of rain!
Example 2: Altostratus
What do you think it would mean if we put
the word alto at the front of the word stratus
to make the word altostratus?

alto + stratus = altostratus

Remember, the word alto means “middle” or

“second highest.”
 Example 2: Altostratus
Altostratus
clouds are just
stratus clouds
that are in the
“middle” of
the sky, or the
“second
highest.”
Example 3: Cirrocumulus
What do you think a cirrocumulus cloud would
look like?
cirrus + cumulus = cirrocumulus

Remember, the word cirrus means “curl of hair” and

is a cloud that is found high in the sky and is made
mostly of ice crystals.
Also remember that the word cumulus means “heap”
or “pile.”
Example 3: Cirrocumulus
Cirrocumulus clouds are thin wisps of
clouds made mostly out of ice crystals
and are very high in the sky. They
also form small “heaps” or “piles” that
look like little cotton balls.
Example 4: Nimbostratus
Can you guess what this nimbostratus
cloud will look like?

nimbus + stratus = nimbostratus

Don’t forget, the word nimbus means “rain” or

“dark rain cloud” and the word stratus means
“flattened” or “spread out” or “layer.”
Example 4: Nimbostratus

Nimbostratus clouds are just stratus

clouds that are very “dark rain clouds.”
Look at all of the
ways that we
can mix the Latin
cloud names
around to make
different cloud
types!