Learn about the four main types of clouds formed at different altitudes
Different types of clouds form at different altitudes.
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Transcript
[Music in]
NARRATOR: It is easy to see that clouds come in an infinite variety of shapes. Some look like cotton balls, while others look like a sandy beach. In spite of this apparent diversity, all clouds belong to four main families, depending on their altitude.
On the first level is the family of low clouds, whose base is not above 2,000 meters altitude. These are stratus clouds, which resemble fog and cause very light rain; nimbostratus clouds with poorly defined contours, which are responsible for continuous precipitation; and stratocumulus clouds, which form gray cloud banks that generally do not produce rain.
On the second level are midaltitude clouds at between 2,000 and 6,000 meters. These are altostratus clouds, which form dark layers, and altocumulus clouds, which appear as banks of small, white or gray clouds.
Above 6,000 meters we find the family of high altitude clouds: cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. These thin, white clouds do not generate precipitation themselves, but when they thicken they may signal that a depression is coming.
Vertical development clouds straddle several levels. Cumulus clouds, white and fluffy, are good-weather clouds. Sometimes they develop into cumulonimbus clouds. These enormous clouds, the tops of which may reach more than 15,000 meters in altitude, often produce stormy precipitation.
With these categories, we can recognize clouds. This, in turn, helps us to understand atmospheric activity and sometimes even predict the weather.
[Music out]
NARRATOR: It is easy to see that clouds come in an infinite variety of shapes. Some look like cotton balls, while others look like a sandy beach. In spite of this apparent diversity, all clouds belong to four main families, depending on their altitude.
On the first level is the family of low clouds, whose base is not above 2,000 meters altitude. These are stratus clouds, which resemble fog and cause very light rain; nimbostratus clouds with poorly defined contours, which are responsible for continuous precipitation; and stratocumulus clouds, which form gray cloud banks that generally do not produce rain.
On the second level are midaltitude clouds at between 2,000 and 6,000 meters. These are altostratus clouds, which form dark layers, and altocumulus clouds, which appear as banks of small, white or gray clouds.
Above 6,000 meters we find the family of high altitude clouds: cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. These thin, white clouds do not generate precipitation themselves, but when they thicken they may signal that a depression is coming.
Vertical development clouds straddle several levels. Cumulus clouds, white and fluffy, are good-weather clouds. Sometimes they develop into cumulonimbus clouds. These enormous clouds, the tops of which may reach more than 15,000 meters in altitude, often produce stormy precipitation.
With these categories, we can recognize clouds. This, in turn, helps us to understand atmospheric activity and sometimes even predict the weather.
[Music out]