Types of Clouds

Question 1

Cumulus

Answer 1

Puffy, cauliflower clouds
Occur in the middle of the cloud layer.
Gray at the bottom, white at the top

Question 2

Cumulonimbus

Answer 2

Anvil clouds
Massive storm clouds
- stretch in a vertical column from 6,500 ft (2,000 m) up to 50,000 ft (15,000 m)

Question 3

Nimbostratus

Answer 3

Can block out the Sun completely
- makes daytime very dark
Brings rain or snow

Very low in the sky
Nimbus is Latin for rain

Question 4

Stratocumulus

Answer 4

Most common type of clouds
Low sheet of round clouds
Form a regular pattern with breaks
-Sun can shine through

Question 5

Altocumulus

Answer 5

Mixture of ice and supercooled water

Sometimes signal a thunderstorm at the end of a long hot spell

Question 6

Altostratus

Answer 6

Thin, watery sheet
Sun can shine through weakly
Often indicate that rain is on the way

Question 7

Cirrocumulus

Answer 7

Healed up form of cirrus
Icy particles like fish scales
Bring unsettled weather

Question 8

Cirrostratus

Answer 8

Layer of cirrus clouds
Transparent veil high in the sky
Indicate wet weather

Question 9

Cirrus (mares’ tails)

Answer 9

Highest type
Form at the top of the troposphere
- cold

Question 10

Stratus

Answer 10

Lowest clouds

Can be low enough to form fog over the ground