Clouds
By: Carter H.
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Clouds are defined as thick masses made of suspended water and/or ice crystals. Clouds can be classified in 3 main categories. Cirro- Alto (or cumulo)- and Strato- (High, middle, low)
Cirrus Cloud
- Ranges from 8 - 10 km high
- Mostly made of ice crystals
- looks like wisps of hair
Stratus Cloud
- Blanket Clouds
- Range from 0 - 2 km high
- Covers sky
Cumulus cloud
- Puffy, cotton ball like clouds
- Range form 2 - 6 km high
- Provides nice, calm weather
Cumulus
- Ranges from 2 - 5 km high
- Big, puffy clouds
- Provides good weather.
Cirrocumulu-s
- Streaks of cloud
- Range from 10 - 6 km high
- Mostly made up of ice crystals
Altocumulus Cloud
- Small clouds grouped together
- Ranges from 6 - 4 km high
Stratus Cloud
- Ranges from 0 - 2 km high
- Provides nice, warm weather
- Covers parts of the sunlight (if under the cloud)
Altostratus Cloud
- Dark, blanketing clouds
- Ranges from 6 - 3 km high
Cirrostratus Cloud
- Strait, and very thin clouds
- Ranges from 8 -6 km high
- Mostly made up of ice crystals
Stratocumul- us Cloud
- Fat, wavy clouds
- Ranges from 0 - 3 km high
Nimbostratus Cloud
- Blanket clouds
- Provides rain
- Ranges from 0 - 2 km high
Cumulonimb- us Cloud
- Very high anvil shaped clouds
- Starts at 2 - 3 km then becames as tall as 16 km high
- Provides heavy rain and/or hail with thunder and lighting