cumulus humilis cloud
cumulus characterized by only a small vertical extent and appearing generally as if flattened. cumulus humilis clouds never produce precipitation .
this is an image of cumulus humilis clouds. click on image for full size courtesy of carlye calvin
the fluffy, cauliflower - shaped cumulus are one of the most common and distinctive types of cloud. all cumulus clouds develop as a result of convection .
cumulus humilis is the quintessential cumulus – flat - bottomed and puffy like cotton (they look like cartoon simpsons clouds). they are found scattered randomly through the sky in separate little piles, and they are said to indicate “fair weather, ” meaning no precipitation and moderate temperatures. they get the name humilis (meaning humble, lowly, small) because they are the tiny, non - threatening cumulus. if you’re spending a day outside on the slip n’ slide, you will be happy if you see cumulus humilis .
is the smallest arrangement of cumulus cloud (humilis meaning humble in latin) and can in some cases be an indication that worsening weather conditions may occur. to know whether this is likely, one would have to take note of various conditions like the amount of moisture in the air and the temperature. one would also need to keep a close eye on the cloud to watch for any signs of development. cumulus humilis is found right across the world, and is seen over the oceans or over landmasses, assuming the conditions are suitable. cumulus humilis is generally found at around 2000 feet and above, though it may form at higher altitudes within a dryer mass of air. cumulus humilis clouds are either very short lived, or under the right circumstances can develop into cumulus mediocris .
cumulus fractus clouds are cumulus clouds that appear in irregular fragments, as if they had been shred or torn apart .
cumulus humilis clouds are the so - called
fair weather
cumulus clouds. they exhibit little or no vertical development and generally have a flat appearance. their growth is usually limited by a temperature inversion (or an increase in temperature with height), which is marked by the unusually uniform height of the clouds. cumulus humilis clouds tend to be small and develop near the ground .
, which often occurs during the presence of cumulus mediocris. cumulus congestus needs strong updrafts to assist in its development, and the resulting cloud tops can often rise to an altitude of 15 to 20 thousand feet, making cumulus congestus much taller than it is wide. unlike humilis and mediocris, cumulus congestus can produce moderate to heavy rain or snow showers. if the atmosphere is unstable enough or convection is great enough, cumulus congestus can develop into cumulonimbus calvus, which is the stage between cumulus congestus and cumulonimbus incus, which is a mature storm cloud .
( mediocris meaning moderate in latin) is produced under more rigorous conditions than cumulus humilis. cumulus mediocris is formed when the convection is greater than during cumulus humilis, and is similar in appearance but bigger. instead of taking on the wide, flat shape of humilis cloud, mediocris tends to be as wide as it is tall. mediocris often forms at similar heights to humilis, and at similar times of day. both clouds tend to form late in the morning or early in the afternoon, when convection has begun as a result of a warming of ground temperatures. sometimes, mediocris can form in an area of strong winds and be torn into sections. the resulting cloud formation is known as
humilis is a latin word which means humble and the clouds have got this name because of the fact that they are formed by a weak convection system. the clouds have flat bases along with small rounded tops and are the smallest clouds in the group of cumulus clouds. some of the unique features of cumulus humilis clouds are as follows :
cumulus clouds can be associated with good or bad weather. cumulus congestus clouds, also called towering cumulus, are in the last stage of development before becoming cumulonimbus clouds. the tops of
cumulus mediocris clouds are cumulus clouds that are characterized by moderate vertical development with upper protuberances. cumulus mediocris clouds are medium - sized clouds that do not produce precipitation, but they can develop into towering cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds, which do produce precipitation .
cumulus clouds belong to the clouds with vertical growth group. they are puffy white or light gray clouds that look like floating cotton balls. cumulus clouds have sharp outlines and a flat base. cumulus
mostly, cumulus indicate fair weather, often popping up on bright sunny days. though if conditions allow, cumulus can grow into towering cumulus congestus or cumulonimbus clouds which are capable of producing showers .
a very small convective cloud, which forms just after a rising thermal reaches the condensation level. humilis clouds usually dissipate a few minutes after they form, and not showing much growth, or they grow bigger to cumulus mediocris and congestus .
below the cloud. viewed from below, this cloud usually has a horizontal base. turbulence is generally moderate .
cumulus clouds can be associated with good or bad weather. cumulus humilis clouds are common in the summer and are associated with fair weather. they are usually widely spaced in the sky, have a flat base and rounded tops, and sometimes they look like sheep grazing in a pasture .
cumulus humilis clouds are not restricted to any specific location and are widely seen in every corner of the world when the conditions are favorable. they formed over deserts, oceans and land masses, antarctica being an exception .
within the cloud. cumulus humilis is composed of water droplets (sometimes supercooled). an observer flying through it has the impression of being in dense fog, with large variations in visibility. ascending currents of about 2–5 m / s (7–17 ft / s) may be encountered. turbulence is sometimes severe, especially during the formation and growth of the cloud, and it diminishes when the cloud is mature .
above the cloud. viewed from above, this cloud often appears to be floating in a hazy layer from which its rounded tops emerge. most of the tops extend to nearly the same level. the individual clouds may be widely spaced, or they may be close together and sufficiently flat to resemble patches of stratocumulus. there is usually no turbulence above cumulus humilis .
cumulus congestus clouds are strongly sprouting cumulus clouds with generally sharp outlines, often with great vertical development. these are rapidly growing cumulus clouds whose height exceeds their width. also known as towering cumulus (or towering cu), they may occur as tower - like clouds with distinctive cauliflower tops: the cauliflower top often mean showers below, but without the characteristic anvil of a cumulonimbus, the cloud remains classified as cumulus congestus. these clouds may produce abundant showers and may develop further into cumulonimbus .
developed at pnnl. the study covers the treatment of small - scale shallow cloud processes within coarser grid chemical transport models. the new revised cumulus parameterization will significantly improve representations of aerosol - cloud interactions within coarse - grid regional models .
cumulus humilis clouds have a strong association with summer. people take them as an indication that summer is here and are also known as fair weather clouds. they are quite common in hot countries and belong to the category of low to middle level clouds .
cumulus congestus clouds are much larger, look like caulilower, and are associated with bad weather .
many clouds form as a result of warm and moist air rising - convection. when the air condenses into small, lumpy, low pockets of cloud, this is cumulus .
is the latin word meaning heaped, and describes the shape of the cloud .
origin: the cumulus always indicates an instability to the layering of air with appropriate convection or turbulence .
while cumulus, stratus and cirrus are very easy to distinguish, how are observers trained to tell the difference between cumulus fractus, cumulus humilis, cumulus mediocris and cumulus congestus? the differences are very important – one can be a sign of fair weather and very limited convective activity, another in this series denotes deeply unstable conditions, with showers or thunderstorms likely within the next hour or two. of course, the answer has to be some kind of visual reference aid for observers – and the latest wmo version of the international cloud atlas has just been published on the web. it includes hundreds of photographs of clouds and related phenomena in full colour, including for the first time entries for lightning, contrails, rainbows, solar haloes, rime ice and noctilucent clouds .
type of cloud: cumulonimbus heavy dense clouds in the form of mountains or towers .
cumulus humilis clouds are formed throughout the day as the sun rays fall on the ground and heat it. this heat up the air and it rises upwards; as it reaches a certain height it begins to condense. they have a fluffy shape in the morning but tend to lose it as they collapse in the afternoon and is so widely spread out that they eventually dissipate. sometimes they collapse into the stratocumulus as they cover the sky. these clouds are formed even in hot places like the sahara desert when there is enough humidity due to convective movements that is required to form a humilis cloud .
type of cloud: cirrocumulus small, rounded white puffs. isolated or in long rows .
the humidity level of the surrounding air mass plays a pivotal role in the formation of the cloud base. in areas where the humidity level is quite high like tropical regions or coastal areas, these clouds are usually at a height of 2000ft and can go up to 3500 ft. the altitude increases as they move to dry areas and under favorable conditions, cumulus humilis clouds can later develop into cumulonimbus incus .
the research team conducted coupled cloud - aerosol - meteorology simulations using the weather research and forecasting with chemistry (wrf - chem) model to examine cloud - aerosol interactions observed during the 2007 field study over oklahoma city called cumulus humilis aerosol processing study (chaps). during the chaps campaign, data was collected using instruments aboard the u. s. department of energy' s gulfstream - 1 (g - 1) research aircraft. they collected measurements below, within and above clouds using a counterflow virtual impactor and an isokinetic inlet to sample large cloud droplets and non - activated interstitial aerosols, respectively .
iwitness contributor prairieman sent this picture of a
cumulus convention
from spokane, wash. (iwitness / prairieman )
this work presents a new methodology for representing regional - scale impacts of cloud processing ...
stratocumulus cloud consists of large, rounded masses of stratus that form groups, lines or waves .
along coastlines, cumulus may form over land during daylight hours as a sea breeze brings in moist air, which is then warmed by the surface. this effect reverses overnight as the sea becomes warmer than the land and cumulus form over the sea .
the word
cumulus
is latin for the word
heap .
. when warm, moist air rises, water vapor eventually cools and condenses on particles (called condensation nuclei) into tiny water droplets. as the process continues, water droplets continue to accumulate upwards, creating heaps visible in the sky as white, fluffy clouds. essentially, a cumulus - type cloud is a cloud that develops in a vertical direction from the bottom up .
throughout the world, one of the most favored clouds among skywatchers is the cumulus cloud. the puffy, fluffy, whimsical clouds add character to beautiful sunny days, yet they become quite dramatic when they grow into huge, stormy thunderheads .
clouds are fragile, fleeting and powerful. a cloud can change from a fair weather cumulus to an angry, ominous hail - producing nimbus is a few short moments, like an amazon princess whose delicate features belie her warrior strength…or something .
altocumulus clouds are part of the middle cloud group (2000 - 7000m up). they are grayish - white with one part of the cloud darker than the other. altocumulus clouds usually form in groups and are about
altostratus belong to the middle cloud group (2000 - 7000m up). an altostratus cloud usually covers the whole sky and has a gray or blue - gray appearance. the sun or moon may shine through an altostratus
automatic weather stations (aws) are increasingly commonplace in meteorological reporting systems: today more than half of all surface observations come from sites that are partly or fully automated. aws have many advantages, particularly in remote sites, or providing observations outside of normal working hours (for instance, almost all uk night - time synoptic observations are now made by awss). despite advances in computer technology and image recognition systems, however, automatic observations of cloud amount and types are still pretty much hopeless, and are best left to manual observing sites. so how do we ensure global consistency in cloud reporting? is cumulus humilis reported in the observation from shanghai the same type of cloud reported from los angeles international airport ?
see! it’s fun and easy to speak cloud! there are lots and lots of different types of very cool clouds (with other very beautiful latin names), but those are the basics of the main three cloud types .
with increasing vertical height, cumulus clouds are often associated with convection. bases of these clouds are generally no more than 3, 000 feet above the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. cumulus clouds are classified as low yet vertically building clouds .
cumulonimbus clouds are vertically developed cumulus clouds, often capped by an anvil - shaped cirriform cloud called an incus. well known as thunderstorm clouds, cumulonimbus clouds are frequently accompanied by heavy showers, lightning, thunder, and sometimes hail, tornadoes or strong, gusty winds .
low – well there’s not a prefix for “low” in cloud talk, but low clouds are found from 0 – 6500ft .
is a dense cumulus cloud that is primarily caused by forest fires. the intense heat that is often caused by these immense fires can dramatically increase the convection and amount of moisture in the vicinity, creating huge cumulus clouds. combined with the smoke and ash that is rising as a result of the wildfire, these clouds tend to take on a greyish - brown hue. the smoke and ash associated with wildfires also increases the amount of condensation nuclei, enabling the cloud to develop even further. if the convection and instability is great enough, pyrocumulus can develop into cumulonimbus. this can add to the problems associated with the wildfire, because lightning from this cloud can start fires in other areas .
all cumulus clouds develop because of convection. as air heated at the surface is lifted, it cools and water vapour condenses to produce the cloud. throughout the course of the day, if conditions allow, these can grow in height and size and can eventually form into cumulonimbus clouds .
humilis clouds do not have much depth and lack in any significant vertical development. there are times when these clouds are seen with other types of clouds when the sky is quite clear. this situation is considered to be an indicator of lovely weather for the next couple of hours. due to its shallow depth, they are quite problematic for aircrafts and when these clouds are present, pilots usually try to fly above the cloud tops .
cumulus are the puffy, white, cotton - top clouds that look so soft that you picture angels lounging around and doing their thing on them. they are considered low - level clouds (below 6500ft), but some forms can build up past 20, 000ft. cumulus comes in many varieties, and here are just a few .
( phys. org) —their fluffy appearance is deceiving. fair - weather clouds have a darker side, according to scientists at pacific northwest national laboratory. fair - weather cumulus clouds contain an increasing amount of droplets formed around pollution particles. the new simulations, using data collected over oklahoma, show how pollution from oklahoma city increased the number of cloud droplets and reduced their size, affecting their sunlight absorbing, light scattering and cloud - seeding performance .
a new treatment of cloud effects on aerosol and trace gases within parameterized shallow and deep convection, and aerosol effects on cloud droplet number, has been implemented in the weather research and forecasting model coupled with chemistry (wrf - chem) version 3. 2. 1 that can be used to better understand the aerosol life cycle over regional to synoptic scales. the modifications to the model include treatment of the cloud droplet number mixing ratio; key cloud microphysical and macrophysical parameters (including the updraft fractional area, updraft and downdraft mass fluxes, and entrainment) averaged over the population of shallow clouds, or a single deep convective cloud; and vertical transport, activation / resuspension, aqueous chemistry, and wet removal of aerosol and trace gases in warm clouds. these changes have been implemented in both the wrf - chem chemistry packages as well as the kain–fritsch (kf) cumulus parameterization that has been modified to better represent shallow convective clouds. testing of the modified wrf - chem has been completed using observations from the cumulus humilis aerosol processing study (chaps). the simulation results are used to investigate the impact of cloud–aerosol interactions on regional - scale transport of black carbon (bc), organic aerosol (oa), and sulfate aerosol. based on the simulations presented here, changes in the column - integrated bc can be as large as −50% when cloud–aerosol interactions are considered (due largely to wet removal), or as large as + 40% for sulfate under non - precipitating conditions due to sulfate production in the parameterized clouds. the modifications to wrf - chem are found to account for changes in the cloud droplet number concentration (cdnc) and changes in the chemical composition of cloud droplet residuals in a way that is consistent with observations collected during chaps. efforts are currently underway to port the changes described here to the latest version of wrf - chem, and it is anticipated that they will be included in a future public release of wrf - chem .
description: heap cloud with flat basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development reminds of the form of towers, cauliflower or cotton .
the results of this study show a regional model' s ability to represent several aspects of cloud and aerosol interactions within short - lived, shallow cumulus clouds ,
said atmospheric scientist and lead author dr. manish shrivastava .
our research indicates that pollution may be changing clouds in many more locations than we previously thought .
. when instability and convection is great enough, cumulonimbus calvus begins to form an anvil shape at the cloud top. this is known as cumulonimbus incus .
* * i haven’t been in macclesfield the full time, i spent 2 weeks in north west scotland, so it’s possible there was cloud at home in that time .
cumulus clouds are detached, individual, cauliflower shaped clouds usually spotted in fair weather conditions. the top of these clouds are mostly brilliant white tufts when lit by the sun, although their base is usually relatively dark .
scientists are looking into the true nature of fair - weather cumulus clouds. they may appear innocuous, but researchers show that they contain an increasing number of particles released from human - caused pollution. credit: arm climate research facility
air currents sweep over oklahoma city to pick up both naturally occurring and man - made particles affecting fair - weather clouds in the vicinity. scientists collected size and chemical composition information on cloud droplets and the atmospheric particles between clouds with aircraft - based measurements during a field campaign to study cumulus clouds in 2007. their results are revealing new information about the climate impact of these small - scale fair - weather clouds .
previous studies have focused on sheet - like clouds called stratiform or tall, deep storm clouds termed deep convection. but seemingly innocuous fair - weather clouds occur more frequently in many areas and thus have more opportunity to affect the climate. like tiny minnows in a large ocean, small and wispy cumulus clouds escape the coarse fish - net of global models. in this study, researchers used a popular regional meteorological - chemical model to capture these shallow cumulus clouds, showing their true impact .
cirrocumulus clouds belong to the high cloud group (5000 - 13000m). they are small rounded puffs that usually appear in long rows. cirrocumulus are usually white, but sometimes appear gray. cirrocumulus
cirrostratus clouds belong to the high cloud (5000 - 13000m) group. they are sheetlike thin clouds that usually cover the entire sky. the sun or moon can shine through cirrostratus clouds. sometimes, the
i love the way cirrus clouds can appear across the sky like they were wistfully painted with a giant cloud brush. they have a whimsical quality that makes them seem more like art than part of the weather .
is an enormous towering mass of cloud, which can grow to an incredible 60, 000 feet. when a growing cumulonimbus cloud reaches the top of the troposphere and has nowhere else to go, its top can spread into the classic anvil shape. in fact the word incus is latin for anvil. the change in temperature at this level (the temperature levels and begins to increase slightly at this height) tends to stop the updrafts and force the cloud tops to spread into the classic shape. because of the cloud spreading at the top, the height of the troposphere in the area can also be calculated. cirrus clouds can form at the top of cumulonimbus clouds, and can often take on a streaky appearance. cumulonimbus will more often than not produce heavy and prolonged rain or snowfall. these clouds often bring thunder and lightning, and can also bring funnel clouds or even tornadoes .
stratus are another low level cloud (below 6500 feet), and they often cover sky like a low - lying blanket. they may or may not produce any precipitation, but if they do it is a misty drizzle .
( phys. org) —grabbing a virtual tiger by the tail, scientists led by researchers at pacific northwest national laboratory directly linked a cloud' s inclination to rain to its effects on the climate. using global satellite ...
cirrus clouds are the most common of the high cloud (5000 - 13000m) group. they are composed entirely of ice and consist of long, thin, wispy streamers. they are commonly known as
mare' s tails
because
cirrus clouds are a high - level cloud (above 20, 000 ft .), and they are made of icy crystals. these wispy, delicate - looking clouds arrive in advance of frontal systems, so they indicate the weather is about to change .
this new atlas has been in preparation for 5 years, and came about partly from pressure from gavin pretor - pinney of the cloud appreciation society to include a ‘new’ type of cloud – originally proposed as asperatus (wave - cloud), now recognised in the new publication as asperitas. work on asperitas clouds was also undertaken within the department of meteorology. the opportunity was also taken to update the photographs used, to expand their coverage from all parts of the globe, and to include much more detail on their synoptic environment (including, in many cases, near - simultaneous satellite imagery). the result is a collection of images which, while meeting is desired training and reference objectives, is also a work of art, and an inspiration to all of us to look up at the sky … the world’s greatest free art gallery !
the researchers modified the wrf - chem model to increase computational efficiency and predictive ability for secondary organic aerosols using the 2 - species volatility basis - set and coupled it with the model for simulating aerosol interactions and chemistry (mosaic) to represent inorganic aerosols. in this way, the model delivered better predictions of aerosol chemical composition and size. the team then compared model predictions and field observations to understand how cloud chemistry changes the chemical composition of particles embedded within clouds and how the particles related to human activities change the effective size distribution of cloud droplets within fair - weather shallow cumuli .
the real breakthrough came about later that same year, when london chemist and amateur meteorologist luke howard published a cloud classification entirely independently of lamarck’s which remains very largely the one we use today. whereas lamarck contented himself with defining and naming a certain number of interesting forms, howard set out to establish a complete classification covering all possible cases and, importantly, began to suggest the physical mechanisms behind their formation – heap clouds (cumulus), layer clouds (stratus), and fibrous (ice) clouds (cirrus). from these three basic types, all others were derived by transition or association. his original paper on the modification of clouds was published early in 1803, and influenced artists (john constable owned a copy), poets (goethe was a great admirer) and the general public as well as the embryonic science of meteorology; it included exquisite watercolours of each of his main cloud types. his original artwork is held in the science museum on behalf of the royal meteorological society .
we also love clouds because they are easy and fun to observe. the more you observe, the more you begin to make connections about clouds as indicators of different types of weather. so here’s a little video about the basics: the three main cloud types and what they can tell us about the weather .
following a 1910 reprint with only slight modifications, the increasing importance of aviation led to the setting up of a new international commission for the study of clouds in london in 1921. this eventually led to a new and expanded cloud atlas in 1930, reprinted again with minor modifications in 1939. a completely new edition was agreed in 1947 but was not published until 1956, while minor changes were made in a 1975 edition which, until now, stood as the meteorological community’s definitive cloud classification tool – despite many of the photographs being in black - and - white, mostly 60 or 70 years old, and almost all from temperate latitudes within the northern hemisphere .
cloud can reach 30, 000 feet, and these calvus clouds are cumulonimbus clouds whose tops have an indistinct shape and are often brilliant white. this is because at this height, the temperature is lower than the freezing point of water, so condensation here will form ice crystals instead of water droplets. cumulonimbus calvus will almost always produce precipitation, and this can be of rain or snow in moderate to heavy showers. these clouds can also produce virga, which is when precipitation falls but evaporates before it reaches the ground. occasionally, a huge chunk of air can be forced upwards by strong updrafts, and a wide smooth cloud is formed above the top of the calvus. this is known as
one really fun reason to learn about clouds is that you can really tell a lot about the weather by recognizing the different types. weather is a very complex topic, and this is a small sample to help you on your way to understanding more about it. listed below are the three major cloud types and what they generally mean in the sky .
hang from the underside of the anvil of a thundercloud. the word mamma in latin means breast or udder, and is indicative of the pouch shape of these accessory clouds. they are always associated with a mature cumulonimbus cloud, and are often a sign that severe weather may be on its way. when the anvil begins to spread after reaching the troposphere (where the temperature begins to rise slightly) updrafts are often disrupted and begin to spread colder air horizontally. mammatus frequently form from mid morning onwards, when the ground has heated sufficiently to cause intense convection. the difference found in temperatures between the two masses can force moist air downwards. this affect combined with precipitation and gravity can cause mammatus clouds to form. in america, forecasters and observers often take the sight of mammutus cloud as being an indicator of possible tornado activity. mammatus clouds tend to form closer to the outer parts of an anvil cloud, and because of the fact that anvil clouds can spread over many tens of miles, mammutus are often seen far from the centre of the storm .
when aerosols - tiny particles of dust and chemicals in the air - interact with clouds, they affect the climate in several ways. they do this by heating or cooling the atmosphere through changes in the amount of sunlight absorbed or reflected by the clouds, and also by changing the cloud' s lifetime. how clouds affect aerosols and aerosols affect clouds are the toughest interactions for climate models to simulate .
they are the cloud you might associate with a dreary, curl - up - with - a - good - book day (but i rather like to go on walks on days like that). i like to think about all the action going on above the clouds, and i like taking off in a plane, flying up through the stratus layer, only to find it’s a beautiful sunny day on the other side .
citation: berg, l. k. , shrivastava, m. , easter, r. c. , fast, j. d. , chapman, e. g. , liu, y. , and ferrare, r. a. : a new wrf - chem treatment for studying regional - scale impacts of cloud processes on aerosol and trace gases in parameterized cumuli, geosci. model dev. , 8, 409 - 429, urltoken 2015 .
this work presents a new methodology for representing regional - scale impacts of cloud processing on both aerosol and trace gases in sub - grid - scale convective clouds. using the new methodology, we can better simulate the aerosol lifecycle over large areas. the results presented in this work highlight the potential change in column - integrated amounts of black carbon, organic aerosol, and sulfate aerosol, which were found to range from - 50% for black carbon to + 40% for sulfate .
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is the new card game from the union of concerned scientists that teaches kids about the choices we have when it comes to climate change—and how policy and technology decisions made today will matter. cool it! is available in our
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on the whole, these clouds are more common during bright sunny days. however, if they are seen early in the morning then they are taken as a sign of unstable atmosphere. if the clouds are quite large and wide, you can expect thunderstorms. they are not taken as rain clouds but are believed to be a warning sign for the upcoming storm .
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with a veil (from ice) on the upper part of the subsequent swelling - sometimes broken .
the weather company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. this story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, ibm .
here at untamed science, we love clouds. why? first, clouds are such a cool dichotomy; they are simultaneously more and less than what they seem. they look as though you could make them your soft, fluffy bed in the sky, but in reality you would fall right through them and get whacked with little water droplets if you tried (trust me, i have) .
clouds are pretty much named based on their basic shape, how high they are found in the sky, and if they produce rain or other precipitation. the trick is, it’s all in latin. so saddle up and let’s get our latin on .
cumulo means “heap, ” like a heap or pile of cotton in the sky .
cirro means “curl of hair, ” like wispy baby curls in the sky .
we have all this so instead of saying, “about midway up yonder, those are the puffy clouds, ” you say, “those are altocumulus. ” isn’t that much more lovely? the answer is yes .
so really much of naming clouds is just a combination of the latin roots above. let’s have a quiz !
rob is an ecologist from the university of hawaii. he is also an award winning filmmaker. as principle director of the untamed science productions his goal is to create videos and content that are both entertaining and educational. when he' s not making science content, he races slalom kayaks and skydives .
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more information: shrivastava, m. et al. 2013. modeling aerosols and their interactions with shallow cumuli during the 2007 chaps field study. journal of geophysical research: atmospheres, 118 (3): 1343 - 1360. doi: 10. 1029 / 2012jd018218 .
for most people, clouds are just an indication of whether it' s a
good
or
bad
day. a team of scientists from pacific northwest national laboratory found that certain clouds hold the key to climate behavior prediction... .
for the first time, researchers have developed a comprehensive approach to look at aerosolsthose fine particles found in pollutionand their effect on clouds and climate. scientists from pacific northwest national ...
some of us look at clouds and see animal shapes. scientists are looking beyond. for the first time, a team of scientists led by pacific northwest national laboratory used actual measurements of clouds and the atmosphere in ...
the arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the earth, and scientists now have more data to understand why. from fairbanks to barrow, alaska, a team of researchers, including scientists from pacific northwest national ...
( phys. org) —small clouds equal big impact. researchers at pacific northwest national laboratory designed an update to a frequently used computer model that represents the impact of small, puffy, fair - weather clouds on the ...
scientists from the australian national university (anu) and overseas have discovered the oldest colours in the geological record, 1. 1 billion - year - old bright pink pigments extracted from rocks deep beneath the sahara desert ...
sea levels in coastal areas can be affected by a number of factors: tides, winds, waves, and even barometric pressure all play a role in the ebb and flow of the ocean. for the first time, however, a new study led by the woods ...
a team of scientists has captured on video a four - mile iceberg breaking away from a glacier in eastern greenland, an event that points to one of the forces behind global sea - level rise .
global fossil fuel emissions would have to be reduced by as much as 20% more than previous estimates to achieve the paris agreement targets, because of natural greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and permafrost, new research ...
a research team led by woods hole oceanographic institution (whoi) found the fingerprint of a massive flood of fresh water in the western arctic, thought to be the cause of an ancient cold snap that began around 13, 000 years ...
for the last several decades, geoscientists have been intrigued by a potential link between erosion rates at the earth' s surface and changes in global climate. distinguishing the cause and effect remained unclear. however, ...
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the first published classification of clouds only dates back to the beginning of the 19th century and was the work of lamarck (1802). this celebrated french naturalist did not set out to classify all possible clouds; he confined himself to distinguishing certain forms which seemed to him to be the manifestation of general causes which it would be useful to recognize. but this work, in spite of its real value, did not make any impression even in france and his nomenclature does not seem to have been used by anyone. perhaps this was due to his choice of somewhat peculiar french names which would not readily be adopted in other countries or perhaps the paper was discredited through appearing in the same publication (annuaire meteorologique), as forecasts based upon astrological data .
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geosci. model dev. , 8, 409 - 429, 2015 urltoken © author (s) 2015. this work is distributed under the creative commons attribution 3. 0 license .
l. k. berg 1, m. shrivastava 1, r. c. easter 1, j. d. fast 1, e. g. chapman 1, y. liu 1, and r. a. ferrare 2
you most likely turn to your local weather report to find out what the day will be like, but looking at the clouds can help too. these common types of clouds will help you decide if you should move your party inside .
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a lightning illuminated storm system over carmiano, emilia romagna, italy. © gianmaria cabrini
ana, tis certainly looks like an ocean in the sky. wonderful image – and i like the muted colours much .
an aircraft' selfie' aka glory, spotted on a flight from bermuda to new york, us. © eleanor desmond
a sun pillar at sunset over hathersage, derbyshire, uk. © drew mclaughlin
a baby beluga meets sammy the seal over lake wanaka, new zealand. © s mcdougall
a mammatus formation stops the traffic in hamilton, new zealand. © sherry liu
a sunset with sun pillar over kerridge, macclesfield, cheshire, uk. © anthony skellern
this is taken from a couple of miles from my home. this was the first time in 9 weeks, for me * *, that the sun had set from anything other than a cloudless sky .
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stratus clouds tend to be featureless, low altitude clouds that cover the sky in a blanket of white or grey .
otherwise known as' the king of clouds', cumulonimbus clouds exist through the entire height of the troposphere, usually characterised by their icy, anvil - shaped top.
cumulus humilis is a cumuliform cloud with little vertical extent that is commonly referred to as " fair weather cumulus " and common in the summer . though if they develop into cumulus mediocris cloud or the cumulus congestus cloud , thunderstorms could develop later in the day . it is generally classified as a low cloud but in hot countries and over mountainous terrains , these clouds occur at up to 6,000 m ( 20,000 ft ) altitude . elsewhere they are typically found lower levels ( 500 – 3000 m ( 1,500 – 10,000 ft ) ) . they have a limited depth ( technically known as showing no significant vertical development ) . this indicates that the temperature in the atmosphere above them either drops off very slowly or not at all with altitude , depending on its lapse rate . cumulus humilis may be accompanied by other cloud types , and they are commonly seen beneath cirrostratus clouds , created as the heat from the sun needed for convection begins to cool , causing cumuliform clouds to flatten and become cumulus humilis . in this case , a warm front could be approaching and this signals rain is imminent in the next 12 to 24 hours . when they appear in a clear sky ( see picture ) , they are an indicator of pleasant weather for the next several hours . air below the cloud base can be quite turbulent , giving occupants of light aircraft an uncomfortable ride . to avoid turbulence where such clouds are present , pilots may climb above the cloud tops . however , glider pilots actively seek out the rising air to gain altitude . these clouds may later metamorphose into cumulus clouds under the right conditions , though the presence of these types of clouds usually indicate fair weather . 
cumulus humilis is a cumuliform cloud with little vertical extent that is commonly referred to as " fair weather cumulus " and common in the summer. though if they develop into cumulus mediocris cloud or the cumulus congestus cloud, thunderstorms could develop later in the day. it is generally classified as a low cloud but in hot countries and over mountainous terrains, these clouds occur at up to 6,000 m (20,000 ft) altitude. elsewhere they are typically found lower levels (500 – 3000 m (1,500 – 10,000 ft) ). they have a limited depth (technically known as showing no significant vertical development). this indicates that the temperature in the atmosphere above them either drops off very slowly or not at all with altitude, depending on its lapse rate. cumulus humilis may be accompanied by other cloud types, and they are commonly seen beneath cirrostratus clouds, created as the heat from the sun needed for convection begins to cool, causing cumuliform clouds to flatten and become cumulus humilis. in this case, a warm front could be approaching and this signals rain is imminent in the next 12 to 24 hours. when they appear in a clear sky (see picture), they are an indicator of pleasant weather for the next several hours. air below the cloud base can be quite turbulent, giving occupants of light aircraft an uncomfortable ride. to avoid turbulence where such clouds are present, pilots may climb above the cloud tops. however, glider pilots actively seek out the rising air to gain altitude. these clouds may later metamorphose into cumulus clouds under the right conditions, though the presence of these types of clouds usually indicate fair weather.
cumulus humilis is a cumuliform cloud with little vertical extent that is commonly referred to as " fair weather cumulus " and common in the summer. though if they develop into cumulus mediocris cloud or the cumulus congestus cloud, thunderstorms could develop later in the day. it is generally classified as a low cloud but in hot countries and over mountainous terrains, these clouds occur at up to 6,000 m (20,000 ft) altitude. elsewhere they are typically found lower levels (500 – 3000 m (1,500 – 10,000 ft) ). they have a limited depth (technically known as showing no significant vertical development). this indicates that the temperature in the atmosphere above them either drops off very slowly or not at all with altitude, depending on its lapse rate. cumulus humilis may be accompanied by other cloud types, and they are commonly seen beneath cirrostratus clouds, created as the heat from the sun needed for convection begins to cool, causing cumuliform clouds to flatten and become cumulus humilis. in this case, a warm front could be approaching and this signals rain is imminent in the next 12 to 24 hours. when they appear in a clear sky (see picture), they are an indicator of pleasant weather for the next several hours. air below the cloud base can be quite turbulent, giving occupants of light aircraft an uncomfortable ride. to avoid turbulence where such clouds are present, pilots may climb above the cloud tops. however, glider pilots actively seek out the rising air to gain altitude. these clouds may later metamorphose into cumulus clouds under the right conditions, though the presence of these types of clouds usually indicate fair weather.