Stratiform Clouds

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Form: Present weather codes_Cloud types STRATIFORM CLOUDS 50 – 55 • Drizzle • Stratus nebulosus -DZ DZ +DZ 56 – 57 • Drizzle which freezes on contact with • Stratus nebulosus -FZDZ FZDZ +FZDZ a surface below 0 OC 58 – 59 • Drizzle (dominating) and rain falling at • Stratus nebulosus along with another cloud layer of either -DZRA DZRA +DZRA the same time • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus 60 – 65 • Rain • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus -RA RA +RA 66 – 67 • Rain which freezes on contact with a • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus -FZRA FZRA +FZRA surface below 0 OC 68 – 69 • Rain (dominating) & snow falling • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus -RADZ RADZ +RADZ together • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus together with Stratus nebulosus -RASN RASN +RASN • Rain (dominating) & drizzle falling • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus together with Stratus nebulosus -RASNDZ RASNDZ together +RASNDZ • Rain (dominating) & snow & drizzle falling together 70 – 75 • Snow • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus -SN SN +SN 77 • Snow grains • Stratus nebulosus -SG SG +SG 79 • Ice pellets • Nimbostratus, Altostratus opacus or Stratocumulus -PE PE +PE RTC-NTS-040.1 Page 1 of 2 Form: Present weather codes_Cloud types CONVECTIVE CLOUDS 80 – 82 • Showers of rain • Cumulus congestus, Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -SHRA SHRA +SHRA 83 – 84 • Showers of rain and snow falling at the • Cumulus congestus, Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -SHRASN SHRASN same cloud +SHRASN 85 – 86 • Showers of snow • Cumulus congestus, Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -SHSN SHSN +SHSN 87 – 88 • Showers of snow pellets or small hail • Cumulus congestus, Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -SHGS SHGS +SHGS 89 – 90 • Showers of large hail • Cumulus congestus, Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -SHGR SHGR +SHGR 91 – 92 • Rain or showers of rain • Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus with possibly also Nimbostratus or -RA RS +RA Altostratus opacus -SHRA SHRA +SHRA 93 – 94 • Snow or hail • Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus with possibly also Nimbostratus or -SHSN SHSN +SHSN Altostratus opacus -SHGS SHGS +SHGS -SHGR SHGR +SHGR 95 – 96 • Thundershowers of rain • Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -TSRA TSRA • Thundershowers of rain and hail • Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus -TSRAGS TSRAGS -TSRAGR TSRAGR 97 & 99 • Thundershowers of rain • Cumulonimbus capillatus +TSRA • Thundershowers of rain and hail • Cumulonimbus capillatus +TSRAGR +TSRAGS 98 • Thundershowers of rain accompanied • Cumulonimbus calvus or Cumulonimbus capillatus (- +)TSRA DS or SS by a dust storm or a sand storm RTC-NTS-040.1 Page 2 of 2 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

New Cloud Types 2019
UPSC MAIN & PRELIMS NEW CLOUD TYPES 2019 BY : NEETU SINGH This is updated material for New Cloud Types, targeting both upcoming Prelims and Main Exams. Video is attached to provide you with the gist of content. https://youtu.be/01Ciwd9b470 New Cloud Types PRINCIPLES OF CLOUD CLASSIFICATION Useful concepts Height, altitude, vertical extent Clouds continuously evolve and appear in an infinite variety of forms. However, there is a limited number · Height: Vertical distance from the point of of characteristic forms frequently observed all over observation on the Earth's surface to the point the world, into which clouds can be broadly grouped being measured. in a classification scheme. The scheme uses · Altitude: Vertical distance from mean sea level to genera(defined according to their appearance and the point being measured. position in the sky), species(describing shape and · Height/Altitude of cloud base: For surface structure) and varieties(describing transparency and observations, height of the cloud base above arrangement).This is similar to the systems used in ground level; for aircraft observations, altitude of the classification of plants or animals, and similarly the cloud base above mean sea level. uses Latin names. · Vertical extent: Vertical distance from a cloud's There are some intermediate or transitional forms of base to its top. clouds that, although observed fairly frequently, are Levels not described in the classification scheme. The transitional forms are of little interest; they are less Clouds are generally encountered over a range of stable and in appearance are not very different from altitudes varying from sea level to the top of the the definitions of the characteristic forms.
[Show full text]
Both Stratus and Stratocumulus Clouds, Except When Their Tops Are Colder Than About “Congestus” (5C) Are the Largest Cumulus Clouds
358247_358247 6/5/13 6:24 PM Page 1 a guide to the sky 1A. Cirrocumulus. When this high cloud forms, it can give the sky the appearance of 1B. Cirrus (uncinus). A cluster of ice crystals in the form of a hook or tuft forms the top of 1C. Cirrus (spissatus). This is the only cirriform cloud that, by definition is thick enough to 1D. Cirrus (fibratus). These are patchy ice crystal clouds with gently curved or straight wind blowing on a pond of white water. This cloud is often seen on the fringes of storms, and this ice cloud. The larger ice crystals, having fallen below the tuft in strands, are being left produce gray shading except those seen near sunrise and sunset. Sometimes in summer they are filaments. They are older versions of Cirrus clouds. By definition they are not thick enough to after a spell of fine weather, signals a change. Boston, Massachusetts behind. Plymouth, Massachusetts the remnants of Cumulonimbus anvils. Near Sonoma, California produce gray shading except when the sun is low in the sky. Catalina, Arizona 2A. Cirrostratus (nebulosus). This vellum-like ice cloud thickens (more than due to per- 2B. Altostratus. Sunlight fades and brightens as the thicker (opacus) and thinner 2C. Altocumulus (perlucidus). This honeycombed (“perlucidus”) layer cloud usually 2D. Altocumulus (opacus). These thicker layer clouds are the middle-level equivalent of spective) upwind to the west. In winter, rain or snow follows this scene about 70 percent of (translucidus) portions of this icy cloud move rapidly from the southwest. Rain or snow are indicates that large areas (thousands of square km) are undergoing a gradual ascent brought Stratocumulus clouds in structure and depth except that their bases are higher (here about 3-4 the time.
[Show full text]
ICA Vol. 1 (1956 Edition)
·wMo o '-" I q Sb 10 c. v. i. J c.. A INTERNATIONAL CLOUD ATLAS Volume I WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION 1956 c....._/ O,-/ - 1~ L ) I TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Preface to the 1939 edition . IX Preface to the present edition . xv PART I - CLOUDS CHAPTER I Introduction 1. Definition of a cloud . 3 2. Appearance of clouds . 3 (1) Luminance . 3 (2) Colour .... 4 3. Classification of clouds 5 (1) Genera . 5 (2) Species . 5 (3) Varieties . 5 ( 4) Supplementary features and accessory clouds 6 (5) Mother-clouds . 6 4. Table of classification of clouds . 7 5. Table of abbreviations and symbols of clouds . 8 CHAPTER II Definitions I. Some useful concepts . 9 (1) Height, altitude, vertical extent 9 (2) Etages .... .... 9 2. Observational conditions to which definitions of clouds apply. 10 3. Definitions of clouds 10 (1) Genera . 10 (2) Species . 11 (3) Varieties 14 (4) Supplementary features and accessory clouds 16 CHAPTER III Descriptions of clouds 1. Cirrus . .. 19 2. Cirrocumulus . 21 3. Cirrostratus 23 4. Altocumulus . 25 5. Altostratus . 28 6. Nimbostratus . 30 " IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages 7. Stratoculllulus 32 8. Stratus 35 9. Culllulus . 37 10. Culllulonimbus 40 CHAPTER IV Orographic influences 1. Occurrence, structure and shapes of orographic clouds . 43 2. Changes in the shape and structure of clouds due to orographic influences 44 CHAPTER V Clouds as seen from aircraft 1. Special problellls involved . 45 (1) Differences between the observation of clouds frolll aircraft and frolll the earth's surface . 45 (2) Field of vision . 45 (3) Appearance of clouds. 45 (4) Icing .
[Show full text]
0200 a Characteristic of Pressure Tendency During the Three Hours Preceding the Time of Observation
0200 a Characteristic of pressure tendency during the three hours preceding the time of observation Code figure 0 Increasing, then decreasing; atmospheric pressure the same or higher than three hours ago 1 Increasing, then steady; or increasing, then increasing more slowly Atmospheric pressure now 2 Increasing (steadily or unsteadily)* higher than three hours ago 3 Decreasing or steady, then increasing; or increasing, then increasing more rapidly 4 Steady; atmospheric pressure the same as three hours ago* 5 Decreasing, then increasing; atmospheric pressure the same or lower than three hours ago 6 Decreasing, then steady; or decreasing, then decreasing more slowly Atmospheric pressure now 7 Decreasing (steadily or unsteadily)* lower than three hours ago 8 Steady or increasing, then decreasing; or decreasing, then decreasing more rapidly __________ * For reports from automatic stations, see Regulation 12.2.3.5.3. 0439 bi Ice of land origin Code figure 0 No ice of land origin 1 1–5 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits 2 6–10 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits 3 11–20 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits 4 Up to and including 10 growlers and bergy bits — no icebergs 5 More than 10 growlers and bergy bits — no icebergs 6 1–5 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits 7 6–10 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits 8 11–20 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits 9 More than 20 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits — a major hazard to navigation / Unable to report, because of darkness, lack of visibility or because only sea ice is visible 0509 CH Clouds
[Show full text]
The Ten Different Types of Clouds
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE TEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLOUDS AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM Dedicated to those who are passionately curious, keep their heads in the clouds, and keep their eyes on the skies. And to Luke Howard, the father of cloud classification. 4 Infographic 5 Introduction 12 Cirrus 18 Cirrocumulus 25 Cirrostratus 31 Altocumulus 38 Altostratus 45 Nimbostratus TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 51 Cumulonimbus 57 Cumulus 64 Stratus 71 Stratocumulus 79 Our Mission 80 Extras Cloud Types: An Infographic 4 An Introduction to the 10 Different An Introduction to the 10 Different Types of Clouds Types of Clouds ⛅ Clouds are the equivalent of an ever-evolving painting in the sky. They have the ability to make for magniﬁcent sunrises and spectacular sunsets. We’re surrounded by clouds almost every day of our lives. Let’s take the time and learn a little bit more about them! The following information is presented to you as a comprehensive guide to the ten different types of clouds and how to idenify them. Let’s just say it’s an instruction manual to the sky. Here you’ll learn about the ten different cloud types: their characteristics, how they differentiate from the other cloud types, and much more. So three cheers to you for starting on your cloud identiﬁcation journey. Happy cloudspotting, friends! The Three High Level Clouds Cirrus (Ci) Cirrocumulus (Cc) Cirrostratus (Cs) High, wispy streaks High-altitude cloudlets Pale, veil-like layer High-altitude, thin, and wispy cloud High-altitude, thin, and wispy cloud streaks made of ice crystals streaks
[Show full text]
Typical Weather Situations in the Alps
Typical Weather Situations in the Alps Kantonsschule Enge Zürich Immersive Geography by Klaus Burri Climatology and Meteorology Weather Situations in Switzerland 1. Clouds and Precipitation Uplifting air masses cool off, hence can bear less humidity, and hence precipitate [= ausfällen] humidity as small water droplets. Being very small at the beginning, they are carried by updraft and thus float through the air. If they are dense enough, we see these little waterdrops as mist [= Dunst wegen zu hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit] or clouds. Still, it does not yet rain, snow or hail. In order to do so, the air masses must be cooled off more: The process of cooling must con- tinue. If not, the clouds will stop evolving and will collapse. To structure the immense number of various clouds, they are struc- tured by different criteria, such as height, convectivity [= Konvek- tivität], shape, to name only a few. Please read carefully in your geography books: GGCH, pp. 301–303; AGG, p. 156 («Rainfall Pat- terns»), p. 158 («Types of Rainfall») and pp. 163/64 («Clouds and Fog»). Reading these passages, you will learn about three types of rainfall, i.e. three possibilities how air masses cool off: convectionally (in- tense radiation is needed), frontally or cyclonically (two air masses with different temperatures are needed) and finally orographically (mountainous terrain is needed). Convectional Type of Precipitation Heated air rises in warm air bubbles and, there- fore, cools down. Frontal Type of Precipitation Warm air flows over cold air, ascends and, the- refore, cools down. Orographical Type of Precipitation Air flows over a mountain range, ascends and, therefore, cools down.
[Show full text]
Prmet Ch14 Thunderstorm Fundamentals
Copyright © 2015 by Roland Stull. Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science. 14 THUNDERSTORM FUNDAMENTALS Contents Thunderstorm Characteristics 481 Thunderstorm characteristics, formation, and Appearance 482 forecasting are covered in this chapter. The next Clouds Associated with Thunderstorms 482 chapter covers thunderstorm hazards including Cells & Evolution 484 hail, gust fronts, lightning, and tornadoes. Thunderstorm Types & Organization 486 Basic Storms 486 Mesoscale Convective Systems 488 Supercell Thunderstorms 492 INFO • Derecho 494 Thunderstorm Formation 496 ThundersTorm CharacterisTiCs Favorable Conditions 496 Key Altitudes 496 Thunderstorms are convective clouds INFO • Cap vs. Capping Inversion 497 with large vertical extent, often with tops near the High Humidity in the ABL 499 tropopause and bases near the top of the boundary INFO • Median, Quartiles, Percentiles 502 layer. Their official name is cumulonimbus (see Instability, CAPE & Updrafts 503 the Clouds Chapter), for which the abbreviation is Convective Available Potential Energy 503 Cb. On weather maps the symbol represents Updraft Velocity 508 thunderstorms, with a dot •, asterisk *, or triangle Wind Shear in the Environment 509 ∆ drawn just above the top of the symbol to indicate Hodograph Basics 510 rain, snow, or hail, respectively. For severe thunder- Using Hodographs 514 storms, the symbol is . Shear Across a Single Layer 514 Mean Wind Shear Vector 514 Total Shear Magnitude 515 Mean Environmental Wind (Normal Storm Mo- tion) 516 Supercell Storm Motion 518 Bulk Richardson Number 521 Triggering vs. Convective Inhibition 522 Convective Inhibition (CIN) 523 Triggers 525 Thunderstorm Forecasting 527 Outlooks, Watches & Warnings 528 INFO • A Tornado Watch (WW) 529 Stability Indices for Thunderstorms 530 Review 533 Homework Exercises 533 Broaden Knowledge & Comprehension 533 © Gene Rhoden / weatherpix.com Apply 534 Figure 14.1 Evaluate & Analyze 537 Air-mass thunderstorm.
[Show full text]
Mountain & Desert Thunderstorms
Mountain & Desert Thunderstorms Their Formation & Field-Forecasting Guidelines 2nd Edition, Revised August 2016 Jim Bishop The author…who is this guy anyway? Basically I am a lifelong student of weather, educated in physical science. I have undergraduate degrees in physics and in geology, a masters degree in geology, and advanced courses in atmospheric science. I served as a NOAA ship’s officer using weather information operationally, and have taught meteorology as part of wildfire-behavior courses for firefighters. But most of all, I love to watch the sky, to try understand what is going on there, and I’ve been observing and learning about the weather since childhood. It is my hope that this description of thunderstorms will increase your own enjoyment and understanding of what you see in the sky, and enable you to better predict it. It emphasizes what you can see. You need not absorb all the quantitative detail to get something out of it, but it will deepen your understanding to consider it. Table of Contents Summer storms………..……………………………………………………...2 What this paper applies to……………………………………………….……3 An overview…………………………….……………..……………….……..3 Setting the stage………………………………………………………………3 Early indications, small cumulus clouds…..…………………………………5 Further cumulus development………………………………………………..7 Onward and upward to cumulonimbus……………………………………....8 Ice formation, an interesting story and important development…..…………9 Showers……………………………………………………………………...10 Electrification and lightning…………………………………………………13 Lightning Safety Guidelines…………………………………………………14 Gauging cloud heights, advanced field observations.………..……………...14 Summary……………………………………………………………………..15 Glossary……………….……………………………………………………..16 References……………………………………………………………………18 Summer storm examples High on the spine of the White Mountains in California you have hiked and worked all week in brilliant sunshine and clear skies, with a few pretty afternoon cumulus clouds to accent the summits of the White Mtns.
[Show full text]
Convection Questions KEY.Cdr
Sketch the four stages of thunderstorm development in the boxes below. This is not an art project, but give it a decent effort. For each cloud sketch, include the arrows showing the direction of the air movement going on - both in the cloud and near the ground (include both updrafts and downdrafts). Show precipitation if there is any. If you are stuck, look at some pictures of these clouds on the internet for inspiration - grab one of the classroom computers if you need to. For each stage refer to your notes. I drew each one of these stages during class. Make sure your drawing includes arrows showing air direction and any processes occurring inside the cloud. Cumulus mediocris Cumulus congestus Cumulonimbus calvus Cumulonimbus incus Questions: 1. In the morning, you see some cumulus humilus. A few hours later (around noon), you still see cumulus humilus, with a few cumulus mediocris here and there. Later that afternoon, you look again and the sky is still littered with cumulus humilus and mediocris. Although the clouds are clearly moving around and changing shape, they really don't look any different than they did this morning. What can you conclude from this observation? A. The air is mostly Stable / Unstable (pick one) B. Thunderstorms are Likely / Unlikely (pick one) 2. In the morning, you see some cumulus humilus. A few hours later (around noon) you see a lot of cumulus congestus and some cumulus castellanus. What can you conclude from this observations? A. The air is mostly Stable / Unstable (pick one) B. Thunderstorms are Likely / Unlikely (pick one) 3.
[Show full text]
SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT-FISHERIES No
548 Expendable Bathythermograph Data on Subsurface Thermal Structure in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean Marine Biological LIBRARYLaboratory DEC 5 1S67 WOODS HOLE, MASS. SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT-FISHERIES No. 548 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUR E AU^OF^COM^WOAT^IslHwiET UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, Secretary Charles F. Luce, Under Secretary Stanley A. Cain, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, Clarence F. Pautzke, Commissioner Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Harold E. Crowther, Director Expendable Bathythermograph Data on Subsurface Thermal Structure in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean By J. F. T. SAUR and DOROTHY D. STEWART United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report—Fisheries No. 548 Washington, D.C. August 1967 CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Instrumentation 2 Expendable bathythermograph system 2 NSRT (near-surface reference temperature) unit. ... 3 Installations aboard SS CALIFORNIAN 3 Observations 3 Problems with instrumentation 5 Temperature errors 5 Failures 5 Near-surface irregularities in the trace 6 Characteristics of temperature sections b Further developments 9 Literature cited 10 Tables 11 XBT observations 21 Expendable Bathythermograph Data on Subsurface Thermal Structure in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean By J. F. T. SAUR, Oceanographer and DOROTHY D. STEWART, Fishery Biologist Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory Stanford, California 94305 ABSTRACT This report contains reproductions of original temperature-depth traces, two temperature sections, and synoptic weather observations taken between San Fran- cisco and Honolulu in November-December 1965, using an expendable bathythermo- graph system aboard a merchant ship, A third temperature section derived from closely spaced observations shows the complicated temperature structure with temperature maximums and minimums over a distance of about 45 nautical miles (85 km.) across the outer boundary of the California Current.
[Show full text]
Chapter 14. Thunderstorm Fundamentals
Copyright © 2017 by Roland Stull. Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science v1.02b 14 THUNDERSTORM FUNDAMENTALS Contents Thunderstorm characteristics, formation, and 14.1. Thunderstorm Characteristics 481 forecasting are covered in this chapter. The next 14.1.1. Appearance 481 chapter covers thunderstorm hazards including 14.1.2. Clouds Associated with Thunderstorms 482 hail, gust fronts, lightning, and tornadoes. 14.1.3. Cells & Evolution 484 14.1.4. Thunderstorm Types & Organization 486 14.1.4.1. Basic Storms 486 14.1.4.2. Mesoscale Convective Systems 488 14.1.4.3. Supercell Thunderstorms 492 14.1. THUNDERSTORM CHARACTERISTICS INFO • Derecho 494 14.2. Thunderstorm Formation 496 Thunderstorms are convective clouds with 14.2.1. Favorable Conditions 496 large vertical extent, often with tops near the tro- 14.2.2. Key Altitudes 496 popause and bases near the top of the boundary INFO • Cap vs. Capping Inversion 497 layer. Their official name iscumulonimbus (see 14.3. High Humidity in the ABL 499 the Clouds Chapter), for which the abbreviation is INFO • Median, Quartiles, Percentiles 502 Cb. On weather maps the symbol represents 14.4. Instability, CAPE & Updrafts 503 thunderstorms, with a dot •, asterisk *, or triangle 14.4.1. Convective Available Potential Energy 503 ∆ drawn just above the top of the symbol to indicate 14.4.2. Updraft Velocity 508 rain, snow, or hail, respectively. For severe thunder- 14.5. Wind Shear in the Environment 509 storms, the symbol is . 14.5.1. Hodograph Basics 510 14.5.2. Using Hodographs 514 14.5.2.1. Shear Across a Single Layer 514 14.1.1.
[Show full text]
Mountain Thunderstorms, Their Formation and Some Field
Mountain Thunderstorms Their Formation and some Field-Forecasting Guidelines Jim Bishop, March 2007 The author…who is this guy anyway? Basically I am a lifelong student of weather, educated in physical science. I have undergraduate degrees in physics and in geology, a masters degree in geology, and some advanced courses in atmospheric science. I served as a NOAA ship’s officer using weather information operationally, and have taught meteorology as part of wildfire-behavior courses for firefighters. But most of all, I love to watch the sky, to try understand what is going on there, and I’ve been observing and learning about the weather since childhood. It is my hope that this description of thunderstorms will increase your own enjoyment and understanding of what you see in the sky. It emphasizes what you can see. You need not absorb all the quantitative detail to get something out of it, but it will deepen your understanding to consider it. Table of Contents Summer storm…………..……………………………………………………2 An overview…………………………….……………..……………………..2 Setting the stage………………………………………………………………3 Early indications, small cumulus clouds…..…………………………………4 Further cumulus development………………………………………………..5 Onward and upward to cumulonimbus……………………………………….6 Ice formation, an interesting story and important development…..………….8 Showers……………………………………………………………………….9 Electrification and lightning, & Lightning Safety Guidelines………………10 Gauging cloud heights, advanced field observations………..………………12 Summary…………………………………………………………………….13 Glossary……………….……………………………………………………..14 References……………………………………………………………………16 Summer storm High on the spine of the White Mountains you have hiked and worked all week in brilliant sunshine and clear skies, with a few pretty afternoon cumulus clouds to accent the summits of the Whites and the Sierra Nevada to the west.
[Show full text]