Weather

Read more

Worksheet: Fronts

Sheet 2: Types of clouds

Exercise:
Study these different types of clouds carefully. You will need this for the following worksheet.

Animation:
Click on the abbreviation within the picture to see the different types of clouds:

Different Types of Clouds, author: Matthias Forkel, student of class 12, Richard-von-Schlieben-Gymnasium in Zittau/Sachsen/2003. The two lines below the cloud figure show, how the temperature (red) and the humidity (blue) typically develop while fronts are passing with their different cloud types.
animation by Julia Heres
 

Cu cumulus (Cu hum and Cu med)
A convective cloud type, with a base in the lower part of the troposphere, and varying from weak to vigorous vertical penetration, possibly into medium or upper levels.

Cb cumulonimbus
The cloud type associated with a thunderstorm, when the upper portion of the cloud exhibits glaciation (supercooled water droplets converting to ice crystals). Broadly, there are two species: Cumulonimbus calvus (Cb cal) and Cumulonimbus capillatus (Cb cap). The former is used when glaciation has only just begun, and is often taken to be the start of the most active phase of development - transition from Cumulus congestus ('Towering CU'); the latter type exhibits the traditional 'anvil' shape, when major activity may be (but not necessarily) beginning to wane.

Ac altocumulus
A medium level, layer cloud type, but with varying levels of instability associated - the extreme event being ACCAST (" Alto-Q-Cast): These are medium level clouds (between circa 8000 and 18000 ft; 2.5 to 5.5 km) which exhibit, at least in their upper parts, marked cumuliform / turreted appearance - the convective towers are often taller than the width of the individual base.These clouds are a good indicator of medium level instability and high moisture content - and often the precursor for widespread thunder activity within the following 24 to 48 hours.

Sc stratocumulus
A low-level cloud type, varying from thin, well broken layers with little impact for aviation/general weather, to deep, sometimes unstable character, and a risk of moderate turbulence & moderate icing.

Ns nimbostratus
Heavy cloud layer, often dark in appearance. Often combined with falling rain or snow.
It is thick enough to blot out the sun or moon.

St stratus
Gray or whitish sheet or layer of clouds which almost always have dark parts, composed of tessellations, rounded masses, rolls, etc., which are nonfibrous, and which may or may not be merged.

Ci cirrus
Detached clouds in the form of delicate white filaments or white or mostly white patches of narrow bands. These clouds have a fibrous appearance (hairlike), or a silky sheen, or both.

Cc cirrocumulus
Thin white patch, sheet , or layer of cloud without shading, composed of very small elements in the form of grains, ripples, etc., merged or separate, and more or less regularly arranged.

Cs cirrostratus
Transparent, whitish cloud veil of fibrous (hairlike) or smooth appearance, totally or partially covering the sky, and generally producing halo phenomena.

As altostratus
A medium level, layer cloud type, formed by wide-scale rising motion in the troposphere, varying from thin, non-precipitating type through which the sun/moon can be seen, to thick layer(s) associated with frontal development giving persistent, significant precipitation, & moderate in-flight turbulence & icing.

About this page:

- Author: Dr. Yvonne Schleicher - University of Nürnberg - Germany
- scientific reviewing:
- educational reviewing: Prof. Dr. Schrettenbrunner, Julia Heres
- last update: 08.09.03