Cloud Classification Flashcards

1
Q

What cloud category is a flat, layered and smooth?

A

Stratus/strato

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2
Q

What cloud category is heaped up, puffy?

A

Cumulus/cumulo

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3
Q

What cloud category is feathery, wispy?

A

Cirrus/cirro

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4
Q

What cloud category is rain-bearing?

A

Nimbus/nimbo

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5
Q

Which cloud category is mid-level?

A

Alto

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6
Q

What level are high-level clouds?

A

5,000m/16,500ft

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7
Q

What level are mid-level clouds?

A

2000m-7000m/6,500ft-23,000ft

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8
Q

What level are low-level clouds?

A

Up to 2,000m/6,500ft

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9
Q

What would a cloud below -40 degrees compose of?

A

Almost entirely ice particles

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10
Q

What would a cloud between -10 and -40 degrees compose of?

A

Mixture of supercooled water droplets and ice crystals

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11
Q

What would a cloud between 0 and -10 degrees compose of?

A

Almost entirely supercooled water droplets

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12
Q

What would a cloud above 0 degrees compose of?

A

Water droplets

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13
Q

Detached clouds in the form of white, delicate filaments or white/mostly white patches/narrow bands. Fibrous/silky sheen appearance.

A

Cirrus (Ci)

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14
Q

Thin, white patch, sheet/layer of cloud without shading, composed of very small elements in the form of grains/ripples. Merged or separate and more or less regularly arranged. Most elements have apparent width of less than 1 degree.

A

Cirrocumulus (Cc)

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15
Q

Transparent, whitish cloud veil of fibrous/smooth appearance, totally or partly covering the sky, produces a halo phenomena.

A

Cirrostratus (Cs)

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16
Q

White/grey or white and grey, patch, sheet or layer of cloud, with shading, composed of layers, rounded masses, rolls. Sometimes partly fibrous which may or may not be merged, most of the regularly arranged small elements have a width between 1 and 5 degrees.

A

Altocumulus (Ac)

17
Q

Grey/blue cloud sheet/layer of striated, fibrous/uniform appearance, totally or partly covering the sky, having parts thin enough to reveal the sun, does not show halo phenomena.

A

Altostratus (As)

18
Q

Grey/whitish, or both, patch, sheet or layer of cloud that almost always has dark parts. Composed of tessellations, rounded masses, rolls which are non-fibrous, may or may not be merged, small elements have a width more than 5 degrees.

A

Stratocumulus (Sc)

19
Q

Generally grey cloud layer with a fairly uniform base, may give drizzle, snow or snow grains. When the sun is visible its only the outline. No halo phenomena except possibly at very low temperatures.

A

Stratus (St)

20
Q

Grey cloud layer, often dark. More or less continuous falling rain or snow. Thick enough to block out the sun.

A

Nimbostratus (Ns)

21
Q

Detached clouds generally dense and with sharp outlines, developing vertically in the form of rising mounds, domes or towers, of which the bulging upper part often resembles a cauliflower. Clouds are mostly brilliant white with the bases dark and nearly horizontal.

A

Cumulus (Cu)

22
Q

Heavy and dense clouds with a considerable vertical extent, in the form of a mountain or huge towers. At least part of its upper portion is usually smooth, fibrous or striated and nearly always flattened, this part spreads out in the shape of an anvil o vast plume. Under the base it is often very dark.

A

Cumulonimbus (Cb)

23
Q

Which clouds can be castellanus?

A

Ci, Cc, Ac and Sc (cumuliform clouds)

24
Q

What is the name for clouds that produce turrets or towers?

A

Castellanus

25
Q

High clouds can be lenticularis?

A

Cc, Ac and Sc

26
Q

What is the name of clouds that have the shape of lenses or almonds, often very elongated and usually well-defined outlines. Most often associated with clouds of orographic origin?

A

Lenticularis

27
Q

Which clouds can be congestus?

A

Cu

28
Q

What are clouds that are strongly sprouting, sharp outlines and often great vertical extent. The bulging upper part frequently resembles a cauliflower?

A

Congestus

29
Q

What is a Cumulus congestus of great vertical extent?

A

Towering Cumulus (TCu)

30
Q

What is a Cb called when the upper parts are beginning to lose their cumuliform outlines but no cirriform parts can be distinguished?

A

Cb calvus

31
Q

What is a Cb called where its upper portion, of distinct cirriform parts having the shape of an anvil?

A

Cb Capillatus

32
Q

How are cloud amounts measured?

A

Oktas

33
Q

How many oktas are FEW?

A

1-2

34
Q

How many oktas are SCT?

A

3-4

35
Q

How many oktas are BKN?

A

5-7

36
Q

How many oktas are OVC?

A

8

37
Q

What is the VFR visibility minima?

A

Cloud ceiling more than 450m/1500ft

Ground visibility more than 5km