Cloudy. Types of clouds and cloudiness

The concept of "cloudiness" refers to the number of clouds observed in one place. Clouds, in turn, are called atmospheric phenomena formed by a suspension of water vapor. The classification of clouds includes many of their types, divided by size, shape, nature of formation and altitude.

In everyday life, special terms are used to measure cloudiness. Expanded scales for measuring this indicator are used in meteorology, maritime affairs and aviation.

Meteorologists use a ten-point cloud scale, which is sometimes expressed as a percentage of coverage of the observable sky (1 point - 10% coverage). In addition, the height of cloud formation is divided into upper and lower tiers. The same system is used in maritime affairs. Aeronautical meteorologists use a system of eight octants (parts of the visible sky) with a more detailed indication of the height of the clouds.

A special device is used to determine the lower boundary of the clouds. But only aviation weather stations are in dire need of it. In other cases, a visual assessment of the height is made.

Cloud types

Cloudiness plays an important role in the formation of weather conditions. Cloud cover prevents the Earth's surface from heating and prolongs the process of its cooling. Cloud cover significantly reduces daily temperature fluctuations. Depending on the amount of clouds at a certain time, several types of cloudiness are distinguished:

1. "Clear or partly cloudy" corresponds to cloudiness of 3 points in the lower (up to 2 km) and middle tiers (2 - 6 km) or any amount of clouds in the upper (above 6 km).
2. "Changing or variable" - 1-3/4-7 points in the lower or middle tier.
3. "With clearings" - up to 7 points of total cloudiness of the lower and middle tiers.
4. "Cloudy, cloudy" - 8-10 points in the lower tier or not translucent clouds on average, as well as with precipitation in the form of rain or snow.

Types of clouds

The world classification of clouds distinguishes many types, each of which has its own Latin name. It takes into account the shape, origin, height of education and a number of other factors. The classification is based on several types of clouds:

• Cirrus clouds are thin filaments of white. They are located at an altitude of 3 to 18 km, depending on the latitude. They consist of falling ice crystals, to which they owe their appearance. Among the cirrus at a height of over 7 km, clouds are divided into cirrocumulus, altostratus, which have a low density. Below, at an altitude of about 5 km, there are altocumulus clouds.
• Cumulus clouds are dense formations of white color and a considerable height (sometimes more than 5 km). They are located most often in the lower tier with vertical development in the middle. Cumulus clouds at the upper boundary of the middle tier are called altocumulus.
• Cumulonimbus, shower and thunderclouds, as a rule, are located low above the Earth's surface 500-2000 meters, are characterized by precipitation in the form of rain, snow.
• Stratus clouds are a layer of low-density suspended matter. They let in the light of the sun and moon and are at an altitude of between 30 and 400 meters.

Cirrus, cumulus and stratus types, mixing, form other types: cirrocumulus, stratocumulus, cirrostratus. In addition to the main types of clouds, there are other, less common ones: silvery and mother-of-pearl, lenticular and vymeform. And clouds formed by fires or volcanoes are called pyrocumulative.