Paragraph Questions:

How are clouds classified? Explain them.

Clouds are a type of aerosols consisting of minute liquid droplets frozen crystals or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body. A visible mass of condensed water vapour floating in the air above the ground level is called a cloud.

The picture above shows the classification of clouds.

On the basis of height, clouds are classified into the following types:

•High clouds - The clouds present at the height of 6 to 20 kilometres. There are three types of high clouds:

1. Cirrus- These are present at the height of 8,000 to 12,000 meters in the form of white delicate fibrous silky filaments formed at the high sky.

2. Cirro-cumulus- these are composed of ice crystals and appear white patched, sheet or layer like.

3. Cirro stratus – These are also composed of tiny ice crystals and are smooth, milky and transparent.

•Middle clouds – These clouds are present at the height of 2.5 to 6 kilometers. The following are the types of middle clouds

1. Alto-stratus- These clouds consist of frozen water droplets and appear in a uniform manner. The colour of such clouds is bluish and grey.

2. Alto-cumulus- These are also called sheep clouds or wool pack clouds. They have a wave appearance in the sky and exist parallel.

3. Nimbo stratus- These clouds are associated with rain, sleet, and snow. These are dark, grey, featureless layers of clouds, thick enough to black out the sun.

•Low clouds- These clouds exist from the ground level up to 25 kilometers above. There are four types of clouds in this boundary:

1. Strato cumulus- These clouds are associated with clear or fair weather and are found at the height of 2500 to 3000 meters. These are grey or whitish in colour.

2. Stratus- These are low-lying dense clouds which are associated with rain or snow.

3. Cumulus- these clouds are also associated with fair weather and are domed shaped with a flat base and resembles a cauliflower.

4. Cumulo nimbus- These clouds are capable of producing heavy rains, hailstorms, tornadoes, and snow. These are thunderstorm clouds which fluffy and thick.