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Cloud families and other cloud pictures/appearances
In meteorology we divide clouds in 4 clouds families, which are in different heights of the troposphere: High level clouds (altitudes of 5-13 km), medium level clouds (2-7 km), low level clouds (0-2 km) and clouds with large vertical extending (0-13 km).
These clouds families are divided in 10 cloud genus:
| High level clouds at heights of 5-13 km |
| name |
abbr. |
example |
meaning |
| Cirrus |
Ci |
 |
Fibrous, threadlike, white feather clouds of ice crystals, whose form resembles hair curls.
|
| Cirrostratus |
Cs |
 |
Milky, translucent cloud veil of ice crystals, which sometimes causes halo appearances around moon and sun.
|
| Cirrocumulus |
Cc |
 |
Fleecy cloud; Cloud banks of small, white flakes. |
| Medium level clouds at heights of 2-7 km |
| name |
abbr. |
example |
meaning |
| Altocumulus |
Ac |
 |
Grey cloud bundles, sheds or rollers, compound like rough fleecy cloud, which are often arranged in banks. |
| Altostratus |
As |
 |
Dense, gray layer cloud, often evenly and opaquely, which lets the sun shine through only a little. |
| Low level clouds at heights of 0-2 km |
| name |
abbr. |
example |
meaning |
| Stratocumulus |
Sc |
 |
Cloud plaices, rollers or banks compound dark gray layer cloud. |
| Stratus |
St |
 |
Evenly grey, low layer cloud, which causes fog or fine precipitation and is sometimes frazzled. |
| Clouds with large vertical extending at heights of 0-13 km |
| name |
abbr. |
example |
meaning |
| Cumulus |
Cu |
 |
Heap cloud with flat basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development reminds of the form of towers, cauliflower or cotton.
|
| Cumulonimbus |
Cb |
 |
In the middle or lower level developing thundercloud, which mostly up-rises into the upper level. |
| Nimbostratus |
Ns |
 |
Rain cloud. Grey, dark layer cloud, indistinct outlines. |
| Other cloud pictures and appearances |
| name |
example |
meaning |
| other cloud photos |
 |
These photos are not assigned to individual cloud families, because they e.g. show a chaotic sky with many different cloud types or undefinite photos. |
| other appearances |
 |
Appearances, which fit into no other classifications. |
Cloud species, subspecies and special forms
To each cloud family there are certain species, subspecies and special forms, which are to describe the appearance of the cloud families nearer. By clicking on the names you get to the pictures of the clouds, which are assigned to this species, subspecies or special forms.
| cloud species |
| name |
abbr. |
meaning |
cloud families |
| calvus |
cal |
bald, smoothly |
Cb |
| capillatus |
cap |
haired, frayed, fibrously |
Cb |
| castellanus |
cas |
turrets-like |
Ci, Cc, Ac, Sc |
| congestus |
con |
huge, towered |
Cu |
| fibratus |
fib |
fibrously |
Ci, Cs |
| floccus |
flo |
flaked puffy |
Ci, Cc, Ac |
| fractus |
fra |
frazzled |
St, Cu |
| humilis |
hum |
low |
Cu |
| lenticularis |
len |
lense-shaped, almond-shaped |
Cc, Ac, Sc |
| mediocris |
med |
moderately |
Cu |
| nebulosus |
neb |
fog, veil-like |
Cs, St |
| spissatus |
spi |
dense |
Ci |
| stratiformis |
str |
layer wise |
Cc, Ac, Sc |
| uncinus |
unc |
hooked, comma-shaped |
Ci |
| cloud subspecies |
| name |
abbr. |
meaning |
cloud families |
| duplicatus |
du |
double and multilevel |
Ci, Cs, Ac, As, Sc |
| intOrtus |
in |
interlaced |
Ci |
| lacunosus |
la |
perforated (round frayed holes) |
Cc, Ac, seldom Sc |
| opacus |
op |
not shining through, darkly |
Ac, As, Sc, St |
| perlucidus |
pe |
transparent (by small gaps) |
Ac, Sc |
| radiatus |
ra |
radially, parallel bands and strips |
Ci, Ac, As, Sc, Cu |
| translucidus |
tr |
translucently |
Ac, As, Sc, St |
| undulatus |
un |
wavelike |
Cc, Cs, Ac, As, Sc, St |
| vertebratus |
ve |
skeleton-like, fishbone-like |
Ci |
| special forms |
| name |
abbr. |
meaning |
cloud families |
| arcus |
arc |
with gust collar |
Cb, seldom Cu |
| incus |
inc |
with anvil |
Cb |
| mamma |
mam |
sac-like, wart-like excrescences at the bottom side of the cloud |
Ci, Cc, Ac, As, Sc, Cb |
| pannus |
pan |
with frazzles |
As, Ns, Cu, Cb |
| pileus |
pil |
with cap |
Cu, Cb |
| praecipitatio |
pra |
with precipitation |
As, Ns, Sc, St, Cu, Cb |
| tuba |
tub |
with funnel cloud or tornado |
Cb, seldom Cu |
| velum |
vel |
with veil |
Cu, Cb |
| virga |
vir |
with drop strips |
Cc, Ac, As, Ns, Sc, Cu, Cb |
Additionally the development of a cloud family can be described from other cloud families. If a new cloud family is developed, the designation of the mother cloud is attached with a “genitus”. Thus if a Cumulonimbus develops from a Cumulus, this cloud is designated as Cumulonimbus cumulogenitus (Cb cugen).
If the new cloud family did not develop yet, but the development goes there, the designation of the current cloud family is attached with a “mutatus”. Thus if the development of a Stratus goes to a Stratocumulus, this cloud is designated as Stratus stratocumulomutatus (St scmut).