There are a lot of strange clouds!
26/02/24
Cloud names are taken from the 4 cloud forms, Cirro, strato, cumulo and nimbo-form. Clouds are classified according to their height.
The name of the highest cloud form is prefixed with the latin word 'cirro' which means 'curl of hair'. They are often whiter than any other cloud and appear delicate and wispy with white strands resembling a tuft of hair. They are found at high altitudes above 6000 metres which is about 20,000 feet.
(A foot is a unit from another measurement system called the imperial system and measures approximately 30.5cm in our metric system. You will have heard of miles when you are travelling. There are 5280 feet in a mile! That's a lot of feet! Imperial dimensions are used in aviation. 'Aviation' is from the Latin root 'avis' which means 'bird' and deals with all sorts of travel by air)
The mid level clouds are prefixed with the latin word 'alto' from the latin root 'altus' which means 'high'. They are large sheets of thin featureless clouds spread over a large area. These are found between 2000 & 6000 metres (6500 - 20,000ft).
Low level clouds are known as stratus clouds. 'Stratus' comes from the latin prefix 'strato' meaning 'layer'. They are flat, hazy, featureless clouds which vary in colour from grey to white.
'Nimbo' is taken from the latin 'nimbus' which means 'dark cloud'. It is used with a cloud type to indicate rain. Nimbostratus are thick, dense featureless layers of cloud which are thick enough to block out the sun and produces rain or snow. This is known as a weather front. Similar to the Nimbostratus in form, the Stratocumulus cloud develops ahead of or after the nimbostratus.
Cumulo means 'to heap' or 'to pile' in latin. This is the root of the English word accumulate. They are big white and puffy detached clouds. They grow upward as hot thermals rise.
Based on these classifications we find clouds such as Cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus and many more variations. We will look a bit deeper into this subject together soon…
The name of the highest cloud form is prefixed with the latin word 'cirro' which means 'curl of hair'. They are often whiter than any other cloud and appear delicate and wispy with white strands resembling a tuft of hair. They are found at high altitudes above 6000 metres which is about 20,000 feet.
(A foot is a unit from another measurement system called the imperial system and measures approximately 30.5cm in our metric system. You will have heard of miles when you are travelling. There are 5280 feet in a mile! That's a lot of feet! Imperial dimensions are used in aviation. 'Aviation' is from the Latin root 'avis' which means 'bird' and deals with all sorts of travel by air)
The mid level clouds are prefixed with the latin word 'alto' from the latin root 'altus' which means 'high'. They are large sheets of thin featureless clouds spread over a large area. These are found between 2000 & 6000 metres (6500 - 20,000ft).
Low level clouds are known as stratus clouds. 'Stratus' comes from the latin prefix 'strato' meaning 'layer'. They are flat, hazy, featureless clouds which vary in colour from grey to white.
'Nimbo' is taken from the latin 'nimbus' which means 'dark cloud'. It is used with a cloud type to indicate rain. Nimbostratus are thick, dense featureless layers of cloud which are thick enough to block out the sun and produces rain or snow. This is known as a weather front. Similar to the Nimbostratus in form, the Stratocumulus cloud develops ahead of or after the nimbostratus.
Cumulo means 'to heap' or 'to pile' in latin. This is the root of the English word accumulate. They are big white and puffy detached clouds. They grow upward as hot thermals rise.
Based on these classifications we find clouds such as Cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus and many more variations. We will look a bit deeper into this subject together soon…