Clouds
By Cinda Jean Melton
Upper level Clouds
- Cirrus- wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals. First sign of an approaching warm front
- Cirrostratus- more of a widespread, veil like. Rain or snowstorm
- Cirrocumulus- are layered clouds permeated with small cumuliform lumpiness. Winter, indicate fair, but cold weather
Middle Clouds
- Altostratus- Flat and uniform type and texture in the mid levels. Forms ahead of the storms with continuous rain and snow
- Altocumulus- Heap-like clouds with convective elements may align in rows or streets of clouds. On a warm, sticky morning, be prepared to see thunderstorms late in the afternoon
Lower Clouds
- Stratocumulus- clouds are hybrids of layered stratus and cellular cumulus. Rain
Lower Clouds
- Nimbostratus- are generally thick, dense stratus or stratocumulus clouds. Lighter of moderate rain or snow
Lower Clouds
- Cumulus- white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton. Thunderstorms
Fog
- Radiation Fog- As the ground becomes cooled by the night sky, the air above the ground also gets cooled.
- Advection Fog- When warm air moves in horizontally over a cool surface, such as when air from the ocean blows in over land
- Upslope Fog- Takes place as warm air passes over the slope of a cool mountain as it rises
- Evaporation Fog- caused when addition water vapor enters air that is already near the maximum vapor presure