Cloud Types and their Characteristics

Meteorology

Presented by:
2/O Moses Reinier M. Macalinao
Competence

STCW A-II/1 Plan and conduct a passage

and determine position
KUP
Meteorology
Knowledge of the characteristics of the
various weather systems, reporting
procedures and recording systems
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the topic students must be able to:

Describe the basic cloud types.

Distinguish the different cloud types.
Why study Clouds?
Why study Clouds?

One of the easiest ways

to predict weather is to
look at the clouds
Why study Clouds?

Different clouds mean

weather.
Recap on Clouds
What is a cloud?
is a visible mass of
minute liquid droplets,
frozen crystals, or
particles in the
atmosphere
How do clouds form?
Orographic lifting

mountains act as
barriers
forces the air to ascend
How do clouds form?
Frontal lifting

two air masses with diff

temperature meet
Warm moist air ascend
over the cold air
How do clouds form?
Convectional lifting

the air in the ground

warms up
warm air rises and then
condenses
 How do clouds form?
Radiative cooling

the ground cools

the ground air cools and
condenses
Types of Clouds
Clouds by Shape
 Cumulus – Heap  Stratus – Layer

 Cirrus – Hair / feather  Nimbus - Rain

Clouds by Altitude
High Clouds
Middle Clouds
Low Clouds
Low Clouds with vertical extents
High Clouds
bases of these are > 6200 m above sea level
usually made of ice crystals
High Clouds
Middle clouds

form at about 2000–6200 m above sea level

mostly made of water droplets but can contain ice
crystals
Middle clouds
Low clouds

these clouds form at altitudes below 2000 m

mostly made of drops of water
Low clouds
Low clouds of marked vertical extent

bases similar to low clouds (<2000)

grows or extends beyond low altitude clouds
Low clouds of marked vertical extent
Excercise
Identify the cloud

Cirrus
Identify the cloud

Cumulonimbus
Identify the cloud

Altostratus
Identify the cloud

Nimbostratus
Identify the cloud

Cirrocumulus
Identify the cloud

Stratus
Identify the cloud

Cumulus
Identify the cloud

Stratus
Summary