Geography-Types of clouds and rainfall

cumulus

>clouds that look like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton

>Usually mean dry weather

cirrus

Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels.

stratus

Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover much of the sky.

nimbostratus

Clouds that are low-level, uniform layer, usually very dark, that bring strong precipitation

Cirrostratus

High elevation clouds, layered across the sky

Cirrocumulus

a cloud at a high altitude consisting of a series of regularly arranged small clouds resembling ripples

Altocumulus

Medium level cumulus cloud that is higher than regular cumulus clouds. Lead to precipitation.

Altostratus

Medium level stratus cloud that is higher than regular stratus clouds. Lead to precipitation.

Cumunlonimbus

Giant clouds that spread across all three levels in the sky

Stratocumulus

Low elevation layered clouds with tops and bottoms rounded

Frontal rainfall

A type of rainfall that occurs when cold fronts meat warm fronts.

Convectional rainfall (convective)

Rainfall formed due to rising warm, moist air.

Relief rainfall (orographic)

Formed when air is forced to cool as it rises over relief (height) features in the landscape (hills or mountains).