Which clouds are found closest to the ground?

Below that is the home of mid-level clouds, which generally occur between 6,000 and 25,000 feet. Finally, closest to Earth’s surface are low clouds, which hover at or below 6,500 feet.

Are cirrus clouds close to the ground?

Such a cloud can form at any altitude between 5,000 and 13,700 m (16,500 and 45,000 ft) above sea level. The strands of cloud sometimes appear in tufts of a distinctive form referred to by the common name of “mares’ tails”. From the surface of Earth, cirrus clouds typically appear white or light grey in color.

Where can a stratus cloud be found?

Found at very low levels (less than 2000 meters, or 6500 feet), stratus clouds are thick, large, heavy-looking gray clouds that dominate the sky.

What type of clouds touch the ground?

Fog
Fog is a kind of cloud that touches the ground. Fog forms when the air near the ground cools enough to turn its water vapor into liquid water or ice.

How far off the ground are cirrus clouds?

20,000 feet
Typically found at heights greater than 20,000 feet (6,000 meters), cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals that originate from the freezing of supercooled water droplets.

When can you see cirrus clouds?

Cirrus clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather. By watching the movement of cirrus clouds you can tell from which direction weather is approaching. When you see cirrus clouds, it usually indicates that a change in the weather will occur within 24 hours.

Why are clouds closer to the ground?

Colder clouds are higher in the atmosphere while warmer ones are closer to the surface. Also, warmer clouds can hold more water vapor than colder clouds, making it possible for clouds closer to the surface to become thicker and bigger than higher clouds.

Where are cirrus clouds located?

Cirrus spissatus – These clouds sit right at the top of the troposphere. A thick, dense cirrus layer that dominates much of the sky above, often formed by passing warm fronts or the remnants of a cumulonimbus incus.

How are cirrus stratus clouds formed?

The formation of stratus clouds occurs when a sheet of cool air passes under a sheet of moist, warm air. At the layer where these two sheets meet, the warm upper air is cooled to condensation and forms a stratus cloud. The cloud will extend as far as the overlap between the sheets of air.

What type of cloud is Stratus?

What are stratus clouds? Stratus clouds are low-level layers with a fairly uniform grey or white colour. Often the scene of dull, overcast days in its ‘nebulosus’ form, they can persist for long periods of time. They are the lowest-lying cloud type and sometimes appear at the surface in the form of mist or fog.

Where are cirrus clouds found in the atmosphere?

The thin, wispy clouds known as “cirrus” cover nearly a third of the globe and are found high in the atmosphere—5 to 10 miles above the surface.

What is the difference between Stratus clouds and cirrus clouds?

Stratus are not only found closer to the ground, sometimes they are ON the ground; then they’re called mist or fog. So stratus clouds are found between 0 to 6,500ft. Cirrus clouds, however, are high altitude clouds and found between 16,500 & 45,000ft (from my trusty copy of The Cloudspotter’s Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney.

What does the bottom of a cumulus cloud look like?

The bottom of cumulus clouds are fairly close to the ground. Click on the image to view the large version. Stratus clouds look like flat sheets of clouds. These clouds can mean an overcast day or steady rain.

What are the three main types of clouds?

Cumulus, Stratus, and Cirrus. There are three main cloud types. Cumulus clouds are the puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton. Cumulus clouds that do not get very tall are indicators of fair weather. If they do grow tall, they can turn into thunderstorms. The bottom of cumulus clouds are fairly close to the ground. Click on…

What is a puffy cloud that looks like cotton?

Cumulus clouds are the puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton. Cumulus clouds that do not get very tall are indicators of fair weather. If they do grow tall, they can turn into thunderstorms. The bottom of cumulus clouds are fairly close to the ground.