Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Cloud Shapes
• Method 2 of 4: High Clouds
• Method 3 of 4: Middle Clouds
• Method 4 of 4: Low-lying clouds
• Tips

Dreamers, scientists, naturalists and you love to look at the clouds, as well as to observe them. While you might want to call that big fluffy cloud "heavy, rainy, or dark," you may find it more interesting (and helpful) to use the correct terminology if you want to understand cloud classification. First invented by the English scientist Luke Howard, the classification of clouds is divided according to their height: low, medium or high tier, their shape: cumulus and stratus, and also based on the weather that creates them.

Steps

1. 1 Learn more about clouds. There are many different types of clouds and are excellent collectibles and observational records. Knowledge of clouds will be a great topic for conversation at a party. In addition, this knowledge is essential for the survival of people who are rock climbing or boating. After all, if the weather becomes gloomy, it is a danger signal. Reading the shape of the clouds will help you learn about changes in the weather without any additional tools.
   • The shape of the clouds will tell you a lot about the stability of the atmosphere.
   • The height of the clouds will indicate how far away the approaching storm is.
   • The shape and height together indicate possible changes in the weather (rain, snow, hail).
   • Fun fact: some UFO locations are actually the result of cloud formation. Lenticular clouds are commonly associated with a warm front on the leeward side of a mountain range.
2. 2 If you enjoy spending time outdoors, take the time to learn how to tell the weather from the clouds. Although this article is not aimed at predicting the weather, it is very useful to know what kind of clouds correspond to the sun, rain, etc. Some types of clouds are formed by a warm front and others by a cold one. A meteorologist in the field can easily determine what kind of weather will come just based on the shape and height of the clouds.

Method 1 of 4: Cloud Shapes

1. 1 Define clouds by shape. There are two forms:
   • Cumulus: Large, "fluffy" clouds that look like bits of cotton wool. Usually their thickness is equal to or greater than their width, and they also have pronounced shapes. Cumulus clouds usually indicate instability in the atmosphere at the location and altitude where they formed.
   • Stratus clouds: These clouds most often appear flat. They are usually wider horizontally than vertically. These clouds indicate stability in the atmosphere or are heralds of a mild thunderstorm. The appearance of fog usually occurs together with the formation of feather clouds.

Method 2 of 4: High Clouds

1. 1 Look for high clouds (or simply "high clouds"). They are at an altitude of approximately 5.943 meters and 12.954 meters. They include cirrus, cirrostratus, and cumulus. They are usually filled with ice crystals and have a blurry outline. They are also thin and smoky.
   • Airplane tracks are also found at this level of the earth's atmosphere.
   • During dusk and dawn, tall clouds turn beautiful in reds, oranges and yellows.
   • The glow around the moon or sun appears due to feather clouds. It can sometimes indicate rain or snow, especially when accompanied by thick, low clouds.
   • Feather clouds often partially obscure the sun. [[Image: Distinguish the with
2. 2 Learn more about feather clouds. They differ in thickness, shade of white and in outline. They are usually found at an altitude of 6,000 meters. Subtlety is usually due to cold winds in the upper atmosphere. Feather clouds are formed from ice crystals that formed from supercooled water droplets.
   • Feather clouds that are far apart and do not converge usually signal good weather. When they begin to turn into cirrostratus, wind and precipitation can be expected within 24-36 hours. Feather clouds indicate moisture above, and if they change to altostratus or stratus, a storm is coming soon.
   • Feather clouds are predominantly caused by a warm front.
   • The direction in which the clouds are moving usually indicates the direction of air movement, that is, where the weather is going.
   • Feather clouds are sometimes compared to a ponytail due to their curling style.
3. 3 Identify cirrostratus clouds. Most often they go in rows and look like wavy ripples. Brittleness and waviness are associated with air turbulence. And those who fly by plane through such clouds will have to go through not the most pleasant moments.However, if you are on the ground, rest assured that the weather will remain without significant and abrupt changes for some time to come.
4. 4 Look for cirrostratus clouds. They are usually shapeless and hazy, and also occupy most of the sky. They indicate that moisture has accumulated in most of the sky, which means it will soon rain. Thicker clouds from overhead can cause showers.
5. 5 Learn to distinguish between cirrus and cirrostratus. Cirrostratus clouds are also made of ice crystals, but unlike cirrus, they cover the entire sky and are several hundred meters thicker. Cirrostratus clouds look like a blanket and are almost never translucent.
6. 6 Pay attention to the traces of the planes. They will also help you determine the weather upstairs. These trails are condensation formed by mixing aircraft heat with very cold ambient air in the atmosphere.
   • If the tracks disappear quickly, or you see a plane with no tracks, then the upper atmosphere is completely dry. This means that the weather will be good for a while.
   • On the other hand, if the tracks are visible for some time, they are long and stretched, then the atmosphere is humid. Bring your raincoat and umbrella, it will likely rain soon if it hasn't already started.

Method 3 of 4: Middle Clouds

1. 1 Learn about medium clouds. They are usually found between 1,981 meters and 5,943 meters. These are known as Altocumulus or Altostratus. They are less pronounced than average clouds, but warm medium clouds often have sharp ends due to accumulation of water, and cold ones due to ice crystals.
   • Variable average clouds in blue skies indicate good weather and often lead to clear skies and an anticyclone.
   • In the northern hemisphere, altostratus clouds that get lower driven by southerly winds (and vice versa in the southern hemisphere) may signal an impending thunderstorm, but it is usually several hours away.
2. 2 Study altocumulus clouds. Very often they can be seen on summer days. They are made up of many small clouds scattered across the sky. These rain clouds are formed by convection (vertical atmospheric movements) and cold fronts. They are usually accompanied by warm and humid summer mornings, and thunderstorms begin in the afternoon.
   • You can distinguish rain clouds from tall clouds by observing the darkening. Usually the bottom of rain clouds is dark.
3. 3 Look for altostratus clouds. Medium clouds are not very interesting, they are usually grayish in color and look shapeless. You can see a piece of the sun behind the clouds. Get ready for wet or snowy weather when you see them.
4. 4 Look for lenticular clouds around mountain ranges. They do not appear everywhere, only on mountain peaks and peaks when the wind goes up the slopes. Nothing will happen to you on the ground, but if you are on or flying over a mountain, be prepared for turbulence and high winds. If you are on a mountain and a cloud cap is falling on it, expect bad weather and look for suitable shelter.

Method 4 of 4: Low-lying clouds

1. 1 Examine low clouds. They are usually found below 1,981 meters, and help cool the planet after warming from the sun's rays. They are grayish blue in color, and are often rain clouds as they are filled with water droplets. In the early morning, low clouds can dry out before they rain. This is because the sun will vaporize them, ensuring a clear day. Otherwise, wait for rain. In fact, low clouds are most often sources of rain or sun because the amount of precipitation they contain does not have time to evaporate on the way to the ground.
   • If you see a lot of dark clouds, the chances of rain or snow are very high. Low clouds (914 meters) most often mean precipitation. If you can't pinpoint the height, look at the shade of the shade.
2. 2 Look for stratus clouds. These are dark, low clouds accompanied by light, often continuous rain. Most often they form a canvas of clouds. Since low clouds contain water droplets, snow is just as likely as rain. They differ from the aforementioned clouds in that they are dark, large and gloomy in appearance.
3. 3 Look for cumulonimbus clouds in the sky. They are very different from others in their massiveness. They cover almost the entire sky with their huge and fluffy veil. It is very easy to understand that they were formed from feather and altostratus clouds. Basically, they bring storms, lightning, showers, thunderstorms and storms with them. They can also turn into tornadoes.
   • They can also look like a cloud with an anvil, whose tip indicates the direction of the weather.
   • In the event of excessive atmospheric instability, you may see towering cumulus clouds. They can reach the height of high clouds (6,500 meters). This is a warning signal that can symbolize high winds, lightning, downpours and thunderstorms. In some areas, they can signal tornadoes.
   • These clouds bring inclement weather, but it usually ends quickly. After that the weather becomes very clear.

Tips

• Color, shape, and size will help you distinguish between cloud types.
• Fog is a low-lying cloud. It is thick and moist, and if you walk through it, you can feel its heaviness. Fog appears when the wind is not very strong, especially in places with a large accumulation of water, such as the sea or a large lake. If the wind blows or the sun shines, the fog will quickly dissipate.
• This article does not cover every possible cloud type. For more information, check out the International Cloud Atlas or an online atlas such as the University of Missouri (Columbia) Atlas (http://weather.missouri.edu/OCA/).