Cloud Types

• Altocumulus

  

  Altocumulus clouds form at middle altitudes and have a patchy appearance.

• Cirrocumulus

  

  These are cumulus clouds that form at the top of the troposphere where we usually find the whispy cirrus clouds..

• Cirrostratus

  

• Cumuluscongestus

  

  Cumuluscongestus are the largest form of the cumulus clouds (cumulus is latin for heap). These clouds can rise through the entire troposphere and even penetrate into the stratosphere.

• Cumulus

  

  This the view looking southeast from the top of Mt. Douglas in Victoria. The Olympic Mountains in Washington State are just visible in the bottom right of the image. In the foreground is the Gordon Head neighbourhood of Saanich. The dominant cloud type is cumulus.

• Stratocumulus

  

• Stratus

  

• Cirrus

  

• Nimbostratus

  

• Altostratus

  

  Altostratus clouds form a nearly uniform grey barrier in front of the sun over Swan Lake in Victoria.

• Fog

  

  The view from inside a cloud (fog) at French Beach on southern Vancouver Island.

• Pileus

  

  A pileus cloud forms a cap over a mountain, hill or sometimes, another cloud.

• Lenticular

  

• Contrail

  

  An aircraft contrail is a mixing cloud caused by the emission of hot gases and water vapour into the atmosphere by jet engines. In this case the contrail is casting a shadow onto cirrus clouds below.

• Mammatus

  

  Mammatus clouds form where cold air is rapidly descending. These clouds certainly look ominous but they are not necessarily an indicator of stormy weather.