Quote: Joni Mitchell, 1967 - Explores perceptions of clouds.
Definition of Hydrometeor: A visible aggregate of minute water droplets and/or ice particles above earth’s surface.
Cloud Classification Overview (1802):
Height: "Étage" - Cloud Base Elevation
Composition:
Ice Crystals
Water Droplets
Supercooled Water Droplets
Combinations
Description:
Patches, Masses, Layers
Shapes, Outlines, Elements
Features (Turrets, Filaments, Tuffs)
Historical Reference:
Luke Howard dubbed the "Father of Meteorology" (1772-1864).
Babylonians, around 650 B.C., predicted short-term weather patterns based on clouds and optical phenomena (e.g. haloes).
Cloud Families:
Based on the height of the cloud base:
Cirro (3rd Étage): High Level – 8 km to 18 km
Alto (2nd Étage): Middle Level – 2 km to 8 km
Strato (1st Étage): Low Level – 0 km to 2 km
Cumulo (Vertical Development):
Carl Linnaeus's Contribution (1707-1778):
"Systema Naturae" framework: Family - Genus - Species - Varieties.
Hugo Heldebrandson (1838-1925): Published International Cloud Atlas (1896).
Cirro Family (8 km - 18 km):
Characteristics:
Lumps (Cumuliform)
Layers (Stratiform)
Cloud Types:
High clouds exhibiting various forms:
Cirrus (Ci)
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
Cirrostratus (Cs)
Alto Family (2 km – 8 km):
Forms:
Lumps (Alto-cumulus)
Layers (Alto-stratus)
Height Classifications:
Alto Family layers at middle altitudes.
Strato Family (0 km – 2 km):
Formations:
Layers (Stratus)
Clouds of Vertical Development (Cumulo)
Proverb Example:
“If in the sky you see cliffs and towers, it won’t be long before there is a shower.”
Cloud Genera:
Classification based on composition and description (Homogeneous/Heterogeneous).
Types:
Ice Crystals
Supercooled Water Droplets
Water Droplets
Descriptions:
General shapes: lumps (Cumuliform) or layers (Stratiform).
Total Genera: 10.
Cirrus (Ci):
Description: Thin, transparent filaments at high altitude (8 km - 18 km).
Cirrocumulus (Cc):
Known as "Mackerel sky"
Weather Prediction: "3 days dry."
Cirrostratus (Cs):
A fibrous veil cloud with high transparency.
Alto Family Genera:
Types:
Altocumulus (Ac):
Known as "Bellow Clouds" or "Benard Cells."
Formed by Supercooled Water Droplets and Water Droplets.
Altostratus (As):
Sometimes a rain cloud; known for its fibrous or striated appearance.
Altostratus:
Sunset observations, fibrous sheets of heterogeneous cloud types.
Strato Family:
Stratocumulus (Sc): Rounded masses or rolls below 2 km.
Stratus (St):
Low layer with distinct base, may contain suspended raindrops.
Nimbostratus (Ns):
Thick, dark grey layer; indicative of rain.
Stratus Nebulosus (St neb):
Diffuse cloud base with no distinct features.
Cumulus (Cu):
Clouds with vertical growth, often associated with fair weather.
Cumulonimbus (Cb):
Thunderstorm clouds, dense and vertically extensive.
Cirro Family Species:
Cirrus fibrates (Ci fib): Filamentous textures
Cirrus uncinus (Ci unc): Hooked filaments; relates to weather predictions.
Cirrus spissatus (Ci spi): Thickening and developing cirrus.
Cirrus castellanus (Ci cas): Turreted formations of cirrus.
Cirrus floccus (Ci flo): Fluffy textures resembling tufts.
Cirrocumulus Stratiformis (Cc str):
Spread out cloudlets across the sky.
Cirrocumulus Lenticularis (Cc len):
Lens-shaped formations.
Cirrocumulus Castellanus (Cc cas):
Displaying turret-like features.
Cirrostratus fibrates (Cs fib): Filamentous variant.
Cirrostratus nebulosus (Cs neb):
Known for creating rings around celestial bodies.
Altocumulus stratiformis (Ac str):
Extensive cloud layer spreading out.
Altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas):
Turreted lumps of cloud.
Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac len):
Lens shapes reminiscent of lenticular clouds.
Altocumulus volutus (Ac vol):
Recently identified very rare, long horizontal rolling cloud.
Stratocumulus Family:
Species Examples:
Stratocumulus stratiformis (Sc str): Spread across the sky.
Stratocumulus lenticularis (Sc len): Lens formations.
Stratocumulus volutus (Sc vol):
Roll Clouds generally detached.
Stratus Fractus (St fra):
"Broken sky cover" with ragged appearances.
Nimbostratus (Ns):
Characterized by dark thick grey colonies, typically indicates rainfall.
Cumulus Variants:
Cumulus humilis (Cu hum): Fair weather cumulus.
Cumulus mediocris (Cu med): Moderate extent; small protuberances.
Cumulonimbus calvus (Cb cal):
Represents vertical striae.
Cumulonimbus capillatus (Cb cap):
Known for forming cirriform anvil shapes.
Building a Cloud:
Collect multiple genera and species in a single observation.
Photo Collection Examples:
Various combinations of observed cloud types.