What does it mean when clouds have flat bottoms?
Because air pressure decreases at the rate of 0.91 inches per 1,000 feet of ascent, rising air expands and cools. The flat bottom of cumulus clouds defines the exact height at which a critical combination of temperature and air pressure causes water vapor within the rising current to condense into a visible cloud.
What type of cloud has a flat bottom?
Cumulus clouds Cumulus clouds are, indeed, flat-bottomed because they ride atop currents of rising warm air (warmer than the air surrounding them).
What are nimbus clouds?
A nimbus cloud is a cloud that produces precipitation. Usually the precipitation reaches the ground as rain, hail, snow, or sleet. Falling precipitation may evaporate as virga. Since nimbus clouds are dense with water, they appear darker than other clouds.
What cloud is called mares tail?
cirrus cloud These are a type of cirrus cloud, known as cirrus uncinus. The name is derived from Latin and means "curly hooks". The clouds occur at very high altitudes, at a temperature of about −50 to −40C. They are commonly known as mares' tails because of their likeness to horse tails.
What do cirrus clouds look like?
Cirrus clouds are short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes. These delicate clouds are wispy, with a silky sheen, or look like tufts of hair. In the daytime, they are whiter than any other cloud in the sky. While the Sun is setting or rising, they may take on the colours of the sunset.
What are the 4 major types of clouds?
The Four Core Types of Clouds
- Cirro-form. The Latin word 'cirro' means curl of hair. …
- Cumulo-form. Generally detached clouds, they look like white fluffy cotton balls. …
- Strato-form. From the Latin word for 'layer' these clouds are usually broad and fairly wide spread appearing like a blanket. …
- Nimbo-form.
What is the nimbostratus cloud?
Nimbostratus clouds are dark, grey, featureless layers of cloud, thick enough to block out the Sun and produce persistent rain. Height of base: 2,000 – 10,000 ft. Shape: Bands or areas of individual cells. Latin: nimbus – rainy cloud; stratus – flattened or spread out. Precipitation: Continuous rain or snow likely.
What is a horsetail cloud?
These are a type of cirrus cloud, known as cirrus uncinus. The name is derived from Latin and means "curly hooks". The clouds occur at very high altitudes, at a temperature of about −50 to −40C. They are commonly known as mares' tails because of their likeness to horse tails.
What do herringbone clouds mean?
It appears as a rippling type pattern in the sky and it can look like fish scales in the sky. This is caused by moisture in the mid levels that get trapped between dry air at the surface and dry cold air in high levels of in the atmosphere.
What does a nimbus cloud look like?
Nimbostratus clouds are dark, grey, featureless layers of cloud, thick enough to block out the Sun. Producing persistent rain, these clouds are often associated with frontal systems provided by mid-latitude cyclones. These are probably the least picturesque of all the main cloud types.
What are the 10 major cloud types?
The foundation consists of 10 major cloud types. In addition to cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and nimbus clouds, there are cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, and cumulonimbus clouds.
Whats a nimbus cloud?
Definition of nimbus 1a : a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth. b : a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing. 2 : an indication (such as a circle) of radiant light or glory about the head of a drawn or sculptured divinity, saint, or sovereign. 3a : a rain …
What does nimbus cloud look like?
Nimbostratus clouds are dark, grey, featureless layers of cloud, thick enough to block out the Sun. Producing persistent rain, these clouds are often associated with frontal systems provided by mid-latitude cyclones. These are probably the least picturesque of all the main cloud types.
Which cloud form looks like mare’s tail?
cirrus clouds As the proverb goes, “Mares' tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships to carry low sails.” Together, wispy cirrus clouds resembling horse tails and patchy cirrocumulus signal that a rain storm is on its way. But scientists are interested in other messages these high altitude clouds can share.
What kind of cloud is mare’s tail?
cirrus clouds Commonly called Mare's Tails, these cirrus clouds form high up in the atmosphere and get their name from their curly-ended appearance. Mare's Tails form when stronger winds higher in the atmosphere, usually warmer air, blow these cirrus clouds and cause them to curl with the moving air.
What is a buttermilk sky?
noun. a cloudy sky resembling the mottled or clabbered appearance of buttermilk.
What is a mackerel sky look like?
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) -A mackerel sky is a beautiful site and a common term for clouds made up of rows of altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds. It appears as a rippling type pattern in the sky and it can look like fish scales in the sky.
What does a altostratus cloud look like?
Altostratus clouds are mid-level, gray or blue-gray clouds that usually cover the whole sky. The Sun or moon may shine through an altostratus cloud, but will appear watery or fuzzy. If you see altostratus clouds, a storm with continuous rain or snow might be on its way.
What does a cirrostratus cloud look like?
Cirrostratus are transparent high clouds, which cover large areas of the sky. They sometimes produce white or coloured rings, spots or arcs of light around the Sun or Moon, that are known as halo phenomena. Sometimes they are so thin that the halo is the only indication that a cirrostratus cloud is in the sky.
What are the 8 main types of clouds?
High cloud – cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus. Middle cloud – altostratus, altocumulus, nimbostratus. Low cloud – stratus, stratocumulus. Vertical – cumulus, cumulonimbus….Cloud Levels
- High – High level clouds form above 20,000 feet. …
- Middle – Middle level clouds form between 6,500 and 20,000 feet high.
What type of clouds are low flat clouds that create overcast days?
Stratus cloud often look like thin, white sheets covering the whole sky. Since they are so thin, they seldom produce much rain or snow. Sometimes, in the mountains or hills, these clouds appear to be fog. Cumulonimbus clouds grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky.
Is there a Cirronimbus cloud?
Unlike other high-altitude tropospheric clouds like cirrus and cirrostratus, cirrocumulus includes a small amount of liquid water droplets, although these are in a supercooled state….
| Cirrocumulus cloud | |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Small, flakey, and white high-altitude cumulus patches. |
What is a nimbo?
1. nimbus cloud – a dark grey cloud bearing rain. nimbus, rain cloud. cloud – a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude.
What weather do mare’s tail clouds mean?
rain storm As the proverb goes, “Mares' tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships to carry low sails.” Together, wispy cirrus clouds resembling horse tails and patchy cirrocumulus signal that a rain storm is on its way.
What do horsetail clouds mean?
As the proverb goes, “Mares' tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships to carry low sails.” Together, wispy cirrus clouds resembling horse tails and patchy cirrocumulus signal that a rain storm is on its way. But scientists are interested in other messages these high altitude clouds can share.
What does a mottled sky mean?
It appears as a rippling type pattern in the sky and it can look like fish scales in the sky. This is caused by moisture in the mid levels that get trapped between dry air at the surface and dry cold air in high levels of in the atmosphere. The wind and gravity is what causes the rippled look.
What does a mackerel sky?
A mackerel sky is a common term for clouds made up of rows of cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds displaying an undulating, rippling pattern similar in appearance to fish scales; this is caused by high altitude atmospheric waves. Precipitation cloud? No, but may signify approaching precipitation.
What are herring clouds?
What are herring clouds? The 'Herring Bone' pattern is formed by the arrangement of the cloud parts in a row-like fashion. These are ALTOCUMULUS clouds that have a significant amount of vertical development. They are frequently seen in areas of extreme instability in the atmosphere (but stable at the surface).
What does a lenticular cloud look like?
They are often comparable in appearance to a lens or saucer. Nacreous clouds that form in the lower stratosphere sometimes have lenticular shapes….
| Lenticular cloud | |
|---|---|
| Genus | Stratocumulus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus |
| Species | lenticularis (Latin: lentil) |
| Altitude | up to 12,000 m (40,000 ft) |
| Appearance | lens-like, Saucer-shaped |
What kind of cloud is this?
Cloud Classification
| Cumulus (above) | Cumulus congestus (above) | Cumulonimbus (above) |
| Shelf cloud (above) | Fractus (scud) (above) | Mammatus (above) |
| Cloud chart showing the different types of high, mid, and low-level clouds, as well as a number of other interesting cloud types and formations. | ||
| Fog (above) |