Question

What are clouds? Write a note on the division of clouds based on their appearance and height?

Answer 1

Hint: Condensation turns water vapour in the air up to roughly 12000 meters above the surface into clouds. The process of adiabatic cooling causes clouds to form when the temperature of the air falls below the dew point.

Complete answer:
A cloud is a floating mass of water or ice crystals in the atmosphere. When water condenses in the sky, clouds form. We can see the water vapour because of the condensation. Clouds come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Clouds have an essential role in the weather and climate of the Earth.

The following are cloud classifications based on appearance and height:
1) High (mean Heights 5 to 13 km)
i) Cirrus: It appears as narrow bands or patches of white or mostly white. They're made up entirely of ice crystals. There is no precipitation from these clouds.
ii) Cirrocumulus: A thin, white cloud patch, sheet, or layer with no shade, made up of very minute particles such as grains, ripples, and so on. This form of cloud is unusual.
iii) Cirrostratus: A transparent, whitish cloud curtain with a fibrous or smooth appearance that completely or partially obscures the sky. The sky seems milky when this type of cloud is present.

2) Middle (mean Heights 2 to7 km)
i) Alto-cumulus: This cloud is a patch, sheet, or layer of cloud that is white or grey, or both white and grey, formed of laminar, spherical masses, rolls, and so on. Wavy or parallel bands are the most common.
ii) Alto-stratus: This is a striated, fibrous, or homogeneous cloud sheet or layer that completely or partially covers the sky.
iii) Nimbostratus: A grey cloud layer, generally black in appearance, whose appearance is diffused by rain or snow falling continually.

3) Low (mean height 0 to 2 km)
 i) Stratocumulus: This cloud consists of big lumpy masses or rolls of dull grey colour with bright interstices found in a low cloud layer.
ii) Stratus: These clouds have no discernible shape or structure. This type of cloud has the potential to completely obscure the sky. They get broken all the time.
iii) Cumulus: These clouds have strong edges and are often separated. They are most commonly seen throughout the day and disappear at night.
iv) Cumulo-nimbus: A cumulonimbus cloud is a large, dense cloud with a large vertical extent that resembles a mountain or a massive tower. Heavy rain, thunder, lightning, hail, and tornadoes are all connected with this cloud type.

Note: Although these water droplets are only a hundredth of a millimetre in diameter, the cloud is made up of a great number of them. If the cloud is high enough in the sky and the air is cold enough, the cloud becomes a thin, wispy cloud consisting of many tiny ice crystals.