clouds

Question 1

Low Clouds

Answer 1

From surface to 6500 AGL

Stratus- Near the surface and can restrict vfr flight. Icing possible

Nimbostratus- Can be several thousand feet thick and can produce widespread rain and snow. Can create heavy aircraft icing.

Stratocumulus- White puffy cloud that form as stable air is lifted.

Question 2

Fog

Answer 2

Fog - Low cloud that has its base within 50 feet of the ground.

Ground fog- fog that is less than 20 feet deep.

Advection fog - Common when a low layer of warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface. Common along coastlines. And can form stratus clouds.

Upslope fog- Forms when moist stable air is forced up a sloping land mass.

Steam fog- Occurs as cold, dry air moves over warmer water. Warm water evaporates and rises upward resembling rising smoke, Can produce icing hazards.

Question 3

Middle Clouds

Answer 3

Range from 6500-20000

Altostratus- Flat dense gray clouds that cover a wide area. Produce minimal turbulence and may produce icing.

Altocumulus Clouds - Gray white patchy clouds of uniform appearance they form when altostratus clouds breakup. May contain supercooled water droplets

Question 4

High clouds

Answer 4

Bases begin above 20,000 AGL

Cirrus - Form in stable air. Thin wispy and form usually above 30,000. They can be advanced warning of approaching weather.

Cirrostratus clouds - Thin, white and long and can may be several thousand feet thick.

Cirrocumulus Clouds - White patchy clouds that look like cotton. Form due to shallow convective currents.

Cumulus Clouds - Flat bottoms and dome shaped tops. Form in convective currents from the heating of the earths surface.

Towering cumulus - Look like large mounds of cotton. Color can vary from top to bottoms and indicate a fairly deep area of unstable air. Contain turbulence, icing, and thunderstorms.

Cumulonimbus clouds - vertically developed clouds that form in unstable air. They are gray-white. Many hazards associated with them.