Cloud Spotting 101

Written by Harshit Sharma

A cloud is a visible mass of tiny liquid droplets, ice crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere. With the monsoon around the corner, let us explore the different clouds we see in the sky.

Clouds form when air becomes saturated as it cools to its dew point or receives additional moisture. The way sunlight scatters through cloud droplets and ice crystals influences whether clouds appear white, grey or dark.

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds found high in the sky. They are made mostly of ice crystals and can look like stretched strands of cotton. A few cirrus clouds in a blue sky often accompany fair weather.

Cumulus Clouds

Cumulus clouds are puffy, mound-shaped clouds that form as warm air rises carrying water vapour. They may appear white or grey and can grow taller when the atmosphere is unstable.

Stratus Clouds

Stratus clouds form broad, blanket-like layers across the sky. They can bring overcast conditions and drizzle; when close to the ground, they are associated with fog.

Nimbus Clouds

Nimbus describes clouds associated with precipitation. Cumulonimbus clouds can grow into towering storm clouds and bring heavy rain, thunder and lightning.

Clouds also occur on other planets. Jupiter, for example, has cloud layers at different altitudes in its atmosphere. Next time you look up, see whether you can identify the cloud type and what it might tell you about the weather.