Clouds

Question 1

What are the 2 ways in which clouds are formed

Answer 1

1-air that has water vapour present, is cooled to its saturation point and condeses
2-air, without change in temp, can absorb additional water vapour until it’s saturation point is reached

Question 2

Name 5 ways the cloud lifting process is initiated

Answer 2

1-orographic uplift
2-convection
3-frontal lift
4-turbulence
5-convergence

Question 3

High Clouds:
1-where do the bases range from
2-what are they composed of
3-what 3 clouds are usually found and what are their characteristics

Answer 3

1-16500ft - 45000ft
2-composed of ice crystals
3-Cirrus(Ci) - thin wavy cloud, must be below - 35°C and high humidity at given level, formed by widespread ascent
-Cirrocumulis(CC) - thin, cotton-like, produced by turbulence, associated with front or upper level disturbance
-Cirrostratus(Cs) - thin sheet cloud, indication of approaching warm front/occlusion

Question 4

Middle Clouds:
1-what height do the bases range
2-what are they composed of
3-what 3 types are found and what characteristics do they have

Answer 4

1-7000ft - 16500ft
2-conposed of ice crystals/water droplets, possibly at above freezing temps or super cooled
3-Altocumulus(Ac) - layer/series of patches of rounded masses in groups/lines, sometimes indicate fronts, usually caused by turbulence and not associated with change in weather
-Altocumulus Castellanus(Acc) - Ac with turreted appearance, may developer into Cb
-Altostratus(As) - thick veil of grey/blue like cloud generally covering whole sky, indicates near approach of warm front, light rain/snow may fall, icing can occur, usually little turbulence with mid clouds unless Cu embedded

Question 5

Low Clouds:
1-what do the bases range from
2-what are they composed of
3-what 3 clouds are found and what are their characteristics

Answer 5

1-SFC - 6500ft
2-composed of water droplets, possibly super-cooled, and sometimes ice crystals
3-Stratus(St) - uniform layer of cloud resembling fog, drizzle often falls from St, produced by frictional turbulence/possibly orographic ascent
-Stratocumulus(Sc) - layer/series of rounded masses/rolls of cloud, common in HP areas
-Nimbostratus(Ns) - low layer uniform cloud, when precipitates it’s in the form of continuous rain/snow, generally associated with warm fronts, little turbulence, produced by widespread ascent

Question 6

Clouds of Vertical Development
1-what height do the bases range from
2-what are they composed of
3-what 3 clouds are found and what characteristics do they have

Answer 6

1-bases form as low as 500ft - 7000ft
2-composed of water droplets above freezing, and ice crystals/supercooled water droplets below freezing
3-Cumulus(Cu) dense, thick, rounded clouds, usually have flat bases with rounded tops, formed by Convection/possibly orographic ascent
-Towering Cumulus(TCu) - Cu that build up into towering masses, likely to developed into Cb, rough air encountered underneath and above cloud, heavy icing can occur
- Cumulonimbus(Cb) - heavy, dense cloud, frequently low ragged turbulence cloud mixed with it, heavy showers/virga, produced by vigorous Convection

Question 7

What coverage of cloud is the following
1-SKC
2-FEW
3-SCT
4-BKN
5-OVC

Answer 7

1-sky clear
2-1-2
3-3-4
4-5-7
5-8