Types & Locations of Clouds
Earth Science
Mr. Barry
Forming Clouds
• Once moisture rising through the atmosphere
reaches the lifted condensation level (LCL),
the water condenses
• If enough water condenses the molecules attract
and become a cloud
Locations of Clouds
• Low Clouds
▫ Clouds just above the
LCL
▫ Form below heights of
2000 m
▫ Made entirely of liquid
• Middle Clouds
▫ Form between 2000 m
and 6000 m
▫ Made of a mixture of
liquid water and ice
crystals
Locations of Clouds
• High Clouds
▫ Form above heights of 6000 m
▫ Made entirely of ice crystals
• Clouds of Vertical Development
▫ Some clouds can cover numerous
layers
▫ Can reach heights of 18,000 m
▫ Often associated with
thunderstorms
Heights of Clouds
• Certain prefixes refer to the location of clouds
• Cirro▫ High clouds with bases starting at 6000 m
• Alto▫ Middle clouds with bases between 2000 m and
6000 m
• Strato▫ Refers to low clouds with bases below 2000 m
Shapes of Clouds
• Cirrus
▫ Means “hair”
▫ Describes wispy,
stringy clouds
• Cumulus
▫ Means “pile” or
“heap”
▫ Describes puffy,
lumpy-looking clouds
Shapes of Clouds
• Stratus
▫ Means “layer”
▫ Describes featureless
sheets of clouds
• Nimbus
▫ Means “cloud”
▫ Describes low, gray
rain clouds