Everybody enjoys the sight of beautiful clouds in the sky for whatever reason many be – either to learn about their shape or to check whether it would rain or not. But still, most of us are unknown to the little details of the clouds. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has divided the clouds into different species, varieties, and genera. Let’s learn a little bit more about the beautiful creation of nature: Clouds.
What are clouds?
You might see clouds as big and fluffy marshmallows like things in the sky, but the reality is far distant from it. They are the collections of tiny water particles that rise high in the atmosphere across the Earth’s surface. Let’s learn a little something about this beautiful creation of nature.
The genera of the clouds
There are ten typical forms that the clouds take up in the sky. According to WMO, it is difficult to define all the clouds; however, the mentioned permutations’ traits would help differentiate one cloud genus from another:
- Cirrus clouds (wispy and hair-like with no particular structure)
- Cirrocumulus (a sheet of thin and white clouds)
- Cirroctratus (white-colored veil covers the sky either completely or partially)
- Altocumulus (round mass of clouds in layers or sheets)
- Altostratus (a thin sheet of clouds completely covering the sky)
- Nimbostratus (thick gray-colored layer of clouds)
- Stratocumulus (uniform sheet or layer of dark and round mass clouds)
- Stratus (gray layer of clouds whose outline is visible through the sun)
- Cumulus (typical dense clouds of bright white color in sunlight)
- Cumulonimbus (heavy and dense clouds in shapes like vertical towers; also produces lightning and tornadoes)
The species of the clouds
Both its species and genus identify clouds. You can only see species of clouds of a few specific genera; however, many species are common for genera. Let’s look at the details for a better understanding:
- Fibratus
They are species of both cirrus and cirrostratus clouds. They cover the sky through a thin veil of clouds.
- Uncinus
They are species of cirrus clouds with a hook at the end feature.
- Spissatus
They are the species of cirrus clouds and are commonly the densest cirrus clouds.
- Castellanus
They are the species of altocumulus, stratocumulus, cirrocumulus, and cirrus clouds. They have a castle-like appearance.
- Floccus
They are the species of altocumulus, cirrocumulus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds. They have a ragged base with tufts at their top.
- Stratiformis
An extensive layer of clouds especially found in the genera of stratocumulus and altocumulus clouds.
- Calvus
Calvus clouds are one of the species of Cumulonimbus clouds. They are tall clouds with rounded tops along with channels or grooves.
- Congestus
These are the tallest species of Cumulus clouds with a strident outline and cauliflower-like top.
- Humilis
Humilis clouds are the species of cumulus clouds with flat and small-sized cumulus clouds.
- Fractus
Fratus clouds come under the species of both stratus and cumulus clouds. They have completely ragged and broken shapes.
- Volutus
They are also known as roll clouds due to its certain shape and movement. They come under the species of stratocumulus clouds.
- Lenticularis
The clouds some-what look like its altocumulus, stratocumulus, and cirrocumulus species, i.e., like an almond or a lens.
