| Although the clouds in the sky seem to be very | | | | clouds. Stratus clouds are also called cloud layers. |
| different, it is possible to classify them by | | | | They extend from the vicinity of the ground to |
| common characteristics into several categories. In | | | | about 2000 metres above ground. Because of |
| 1803, amateur meteorologist Luke Howard | | | | that, they are sometimes called high fog. Their |
| (1772-1864) put together a table for distinguishing | | | | base structure is not well organized and they give |
| types of clouds and gave them Latin names. The | | | | the impression of grey foggy mist. They often |
| classification, which is based on the shape and | | | | have "rags" (stratus fractus) hanging down. |
| altitude of the clouds, gives us the following | | | | Stratus clouds consist of droplets, and at lower |
| groups: high clouds, middle clouds, and low clouds. | | | | temperatures there will also be ice crystals. These |
| High clouds are grouped together under a general | | | | clouds form when the ground warms up. At |
| name of "cirrus." This group includes cirrus, | | | | times, when they are very dense, they may |
| cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. In temperate | | | | produce drizzle, or sometimes even tiny particles |
| geographical latitudes, these clouds move in | | | | of snow, but not large snowflakes. Stratus clouds |
| altitudes of between 5 and 13 kilometres, in the | | | | may envelop mountain ranges and towers in a |
| tropics, the altitude is between 6 and 18 | | | | fog. |
| kilometres, while in the polar regions it is between | | | | Stratocumulus clouds are the fair-weather clouds. |
| 3 and 8 kilometres. | | | | They consist of water droplets, and sometimes in |
| Cirrus clouds, also called "white clouds," are | | | | winter also of ice crystals. They re situated in the |
| formed by ice crystals. They occur either | | | | low cloud layer. Grey or whitish clouds, they occur |
| individually or in groups, have a fibrous | | | | in the shape of piled-up packages or nuggets, |
| appearance, silky glow in the sunlight, and are | | | | arranged above each other or over each other. |
| surrounded by white reflections. Depending on the | | | | There are no firm shapes or boundaries. These |
| wind speed, they may travel in these altitudes at | | | | clouds often occur in evening hours and in winter. |
| 150 to 300 km/h. The wind scatters them far | | | | Clouds that develop vertically extend through |
| away from each other. The sunlight penetrates | | | | several altitude groups. Since their base is in the |
| very well these thin layers of ice particles. At | | | | low cloud layer, they are included in those groups. |
| dusk, cirrus clouds light up with intense colours. | | | | They include cumulus, cumulonimbus, and |
| Cirrocumulus clouds, also called high (small) fleecy | | | | nimbostratus clouds. |
| clouds, occur relatively infrequently. They are | | | | Cumulus cloud, also called dome-shaped cloud, is |
| formed by ice crystals. Of ribbed appearance, | | | | generally seen as an isolated, sharp-edged white |
| they join in groups, forming cloud fields. | | | | dome. The upper part glows with white light, the |
| Cirrostratus clouds are also described as high | | | | lower portion is often dark. These clouds form |
| cloudy veil, or high cloudiness. This type of clouds | | | | when the ground is heated, most often in the |
| consists mainly of ice crystals and forms thin, | | | | afternoon and in summertime. |
| expansive cloudy veils, reducing the intensity of | | | | Cumulus clouds partially reach the upper cloud |
| the sunlight. If these clouds cover the sun or the | | | | layers, where their tops may freeze. In general, |
| moon, they create a light circle around these | | | | no precipitation is expected from these clouds, |
| heavenly bodies. This phenomenon is called "halo." | | | | however, if they continue to develop into the |
| A preposition "alto" is given to the name of the | | | | cumulonimbus type, there may be heavy |
| middle high clouds. They include altocumulus and | | | | downpours. |
| altostratus. These clouds move in temperate | | | | Cumulonimbus clouds are also called storm or rain |
| geographical latitudes in an altitude of 2 to 6 | | | | clouds. They may reach up to 18 kilometres into |
| kilometres, in the tropics at 2 to 8 kilometres, and | | | | the atmosphere (in the tropics) and run through |
| in the polar regions at 2 to 4 kilometres. | | | | several cloud layers, which means that they |
| Altocumulus clouds, the so-called large fleecy | | | | encompass almost the entire depth of the |
| clouds, are similar in their appearance to the | | | | troposphere. Their characteristic is the widening of |
| cirrocumulus clouds. They occur at an altitude of 3 | | | | the upper part into a vaulted shield, also called |
| to 4 kilometres. They appear in the shape of | | | | storm shield. The shield is generally frozen and |
| nuggets, waves, or contiguous fields. Sometimes | | | | shows anvil-like fibrous structure, similar to the |
| they appear layered or in a belt formation. They | | | | one seen in cirrus clouds. Generally, the |
| are formed by water droplets. When these clouds | | | | cumulonimbus clouds appear alone, like a tower, or |
| cover the sun, they create wreaths of light, but | | | | are in a mountain-range formation. When |
| these are smaller than the "halo" phenomenon in | | | | observed from the side, the view is impressive. |
| the case of the cirrostratus clouds. Individual cloud | | | | However, standing underneath these clouds, you |
| nuggets often separate and rise. This strange | | | | see only dark mass, which does not show any of |
| shape is called altocumulus castellanus. They are | | | | its luminosity. If there are gleaming yellow patches |
| an almost certain indication of a coming storm. | | | | in the cloud, it means hail will fall on the place |
| Altostratus clouds are middle high grey layers in | | | | below this cloud. Cumulonimbus clouds form during |
| the altitude of approximately 3 to 4 kilometres. | | | | hot and humid summer days. They produce |
| They often originate from the cirrostratus clouds | | | | heavy precipitation, both rain and hail, which may |
| and create felt-like grey layers covering large | | | | be accompanied by high winds and thunderstorms. |
| areas of the sky. | | | | Nimbostratus clouds are classified as layered, |
| They gradually cover the sun, so that it appears | | | | precipitation-laden clouds, which completely cover |
| as if made of milky glass. These large clouds are | | | | the sun. They are thick, grey layers of clouds, |
| made up of water droplets and ice crystals. They | | | | with "rags" hanging on the lower part, and they |
| signal the arrival of rain. If, due to high rate of | | | | extend to an altitude of 5 kilometres. They form |
| evaporation, the rain does not reach the ground, | | | | through gradual rise of extensive layers of air, |
| they form fringes on the lower edges. | | | | bringing bad weather with continuing precipitation, |
| Low clouds occur in the altitude of up to 2 | | | | either in the form of rain or snow. |
| kilometres. They include stratocumulus and stratus | | | | |