Variations on cloud levels and types on the Moray coast, in North East Scotland. SCO 9856.SCO 9855.
Image details
Contributor:
David Gowans / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
ERMYT4File size:
70 MB (1.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
6120 x 3996 px | 51.8 x 33.8 cm | 20.4 x 13.3 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
3 June 2015Location:
RAF Lossiemouth Air Base, Moray. Grampian Region. Scotland. UK.More information:
Clouds in the troposphere, the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface, have Latin names due to the universal adaptation of Luke Howard's nomenclature. It was introduced in December 1802 and became the basis of a modern international system that classifies these tropospheric aerosols into several physical forms, then cross-classifies them as low, middle and high-étage according to cloud-base altitude range above Earth's surface. Clouds with significant vertical extent occupying more than one étage are often considered a distinct group or sub-group. One physical form shows free-convective upward growth into low or vertical cumuliform heaps. Other more layered types appear as non-convective stratiform sheets, and as limited-convective stratocumuliform rolls or ripples. Both these layered forms have low, middle, and high-étage variants with the latter two identified respectively by the prefixes alto- and cirro-. Thin cirriform wisps are found only at high altitudes of the troposphere. In the case of clouds with vertical extent, prefixes are used whenever necessary to express variations or complexities in their physical structures. These include cumulo- for complex highly convective cumulonimbiform storm clouds, and nimbo- for thick stratiform layers with sufficient vertical depth to produce moderate to heavy precipitation. Genus classification by altitude of occurrence. Vertical types or sub-types not limited by altitude include cumulonimbus-Cb, towering cumulus-Tcu (not shown), and nimbostratus-Ns. This process of cross-classification produces ten basic genus-types or genera, most of which can be divided into subtypes consisting of species that are often subdivided into varieties where applicable. Synoptic surface weather observations use code numbers to record and report any type of tropospheric cloud visible at scheduled observation times based on its height and physical appearance.