Clouds have been classified into many different catagories depending upon their shape and where they are found in the atmosphere.

Three Latin root names will help to understand cloud names.

First the word Stratus means layer, pertaining to a collection of clouds found in a flat arrangement occupying a small range of altitude. As illustrated by the picture, these clouds typically occupy the first 2 kilometers of the atmosphere.

Cumulus is Latin for lump or heap. This term pertains to clouds that are occupying a larger amount of altitude. They are piles or large columns of cloud that typically occur from 2 to 6 kilometers from ground level.

The third root word is Cirrus, which means wispy or curly. These clouds occur higher than the other cloud types, from 6 kilometers and up and as per their namesake, they are very wispy and sparse.

Other Latin words are added to the basic cloud types to give more information about the clouds. Probably most important is Nimbus. Nimbus means pouring down rain and it refers to clouds that precipitate rainfall. As you can see by the illustration both Stratus and Cumulus clouds can also be Nimbus and produce rain. This is never seen with Cirrus clouds.

Two final words that are of less importance, Alto means middle and Fracto means broken.

Study the cloud shapes and names and be prepared to answer questions about them at the end of this lesson.

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Lesson created by Erik J. Shuping

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