text:
Cloud
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 26 October 2018.
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For other uses, see Cloud (disambiguation).
Cumuliform cloudscape over Swifts Creek, Australia
In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of minute liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body.[1] Water or various other chemicals may compose the droplets and crystals. On Earth, clouds are formed as a result of saturation of the air when it is cooled to its dew point, or when it gains sufficient moisture (usually in the form of water vapor) from an adjacent source to raise the dew point to the ambient temperature. They are seen in the Earth's homosphere (which includes the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere). Nephology is the science of clouds, which is undertaken in the cloud physics branch of meteorology.
There are two methods of naming clouds in their respective layers of the atmosphere; Latin and common. Cloud types in the troposphere, the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface, have Latin names due to the universal adaptation of Luke Howard's nomenclature. Formally proposed in 1802, it became the basis of a modern international system that divides clouds into five physical forms that appear in any or all of three altitude levels (formerly known as étages). These physical types, in approximate ascending order of convective activity, include stratiform sheets, cirriform wisps and patches, stratocumuliform layers (mainly structured as rolls, ripples, and patches), cumuliform heaps, and very large cumulonimbiform heaps that often show complex structure. The physical forms are divided by altitude level into ten basic genus-types. The Latin names for applicable high-level genera carry a cirro- prefix, and an alto- prefix is added to the names of the mid-level genus-types. Most of the genera can be subdivided into species and further subdivided into varieties. A very low stratiform cloud that extends down to the Earth's surface is given the common name, fog, but has no Latin name.
Two cirriform clouds that form higher up in the stratosphere and mesosphere have common names for their main types. They are seen infrequently, mostly in the polar regions of Earth. Clouds have been observed in the atmospheres of other planets and moons in the Solar System and beyond. However, due to their different temperature characteristics, they are often composed of other substances such as methane, ammonia, and sulfuric acid as well as water.
Taken as a whole, homospheric clouds can be cross-classified by form and level to derive the ten tropospheric genera, the fog that forms at surface level, and the two additional major types above the troposphere. The cumulus genus includes three species that indicate vertical size. Clouds with sufficient vertical extent to occupy more than one altitude level are officially classified as low- or mid-level according to the altitude range at which each initially forms. However they are also more informally classified as multi-level or vertical.
Forms and levels
Stratiform
non-convective
Cirriform
mostly non-convective
Stratocumuliform
limited-convective
Cumuliform
free-convective
Cumulonimbiform
strong convective
Extreme level
Noctilucent (polar mesospheric)
Very high level
Polar stratospheric
High-level
Cirrostratus Cirrus Cirrocumulus
Mid-level
Altostratus Altocumulus
Low-level
Stratus Stratocumulus Cumulus humilis
Multi-level/vertical
Nimbostratus Cumulus mediocris
Towering vertical
Cumulus congestus Cumulonimbus
Surface-level
Fog
Contents
1 Etymology and history of cloud science and nomenclature
1.1 Etymology
1.2 Aristotle and Theophrastus
1.3 First comprehensive classification
2 Formation in the homosphere: How air becomes saturated
2.1 Adiabatic cooling
2.2 Non-adiabatic cooling
2.3 Adding moisture to the air
3 Classification: How clouds are identified in the troposphere
3.1 Physical forms
3.1.1 Stratiform
3.1.2 Cirriform
3.1.3 Stratocumuliform
3.1.4 Cumuliform
3.1.5 Cumulonimbiform
3.2 Levels and genera
3.2.1 High-level
3.2.2 Mid-level
3.2.3 Low-level
3.2.4 Multi-level (low to mid-level cloud base)
3.2.4.1 Moderate and deep vertical
3.2.4.2 Towering vertical
3.3 Species and varieties
3.3.1 Species
3.3.1.1 Stable or mostly stable
3.3.1.2 Ragged
3.3.1.3 Partly unstable
3.3.1.4 Unstable or mostly unstable
3.3.2 Varieties
3.3.2.1 Opacity-based
3.3.2.2 Pattern-based
3.3.2.3 Combinations
3.4 Accessory clouds, supplementary features, and other derivative types
3.4.1 Precipitation-based supplementary features
3.4.2 Cloud-based supplementary features
3.4.3 Accessory clouds
3.4.4 Mother clouds
3.4.5 Other genitus and mutatus clouds
3.4.6 Stratocumulus fields
3.4.7 Vortex streets
4 Distribution: Where tropospheric clouds are most and least prevalent
4.1 Convergence along low-pressure zones
4.2 Divergence along high pressure zones
5 Luminance, reflectivity, and coloration
6 Effects on the troposphere, climate, and climate change
7 Polar stratospheric
8 Polar mesospheric
9 Extraterrestrial
10 In culture and religion
11 See also
12 References
13 Bibliography
14 External links
Play media
Time-lapse video of clouds at sunset in Japan
Etymology and history of cloud science and nomenclature[edit]
Main article: Timeline of meteorology
Etymology[edit]
The origin of the term cloud can be found in the old English clud or clod, meaning a hill or a mass of rock. Around the beginning of the 13th century, the word came to be used as a metaphor for rain clouds, because of the similarity in appearance between a mass of rock and cumulus heap cloud. Over time, the metaphoric usage of the word supplanted the old English weolcan, which had been the literal term for clouds in general.[2][3]
Aristotle and Theophrastus[edit]
Ancient cloud studies were not made in isolation, but were observed in combination with other weather elements and even other natural sciences. In about 340 BC the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote Meteorologica, a work which represented the sum of knowledge of the time about natural science, including weather and climate. For the first time, precipitation and the clouds from which precipitation fell were called meteors, which originate from the Greek word meteoros, meaning 'high in the sky'. From that word came the modern term meteorology, the study of clouds and weather. Meteorologica was based on intuition and simple observation, but not on what is now considered the scientific method. Nevertheless, it was the first known work that attempted to treat a broad range of meteorological topics.[4]
First comprehensive classification[edit]
After centuries of speculative theories about the formation and behavior of clouds, the first truly scientific studies were undertaken by Luke Howard in England and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in France. Howard was a methodical observer with a strong grounding in the Latin language and used his background to classify the various tropospheric cloud types during 1802. He believed that the changing cloud forms in the sky could unlock the key to weather forecasting. Lamarck had worked independently on cloud classification the same year and had come up with a different naming scheme that failed to make an impression even in his home country of France because it used unusual French names for cloud types. His system of nomenclature included twelve categories of clouds, with such names as (translated from French) hazy clouds, dappled clouds and broom-like clouds. By contrast, Howard used universally accepted Latin, which caught on quickly after it was published in 1803.[5] As a sign of the popularity of the naming scheme, the German dramatist and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe composed four poems about clouds, dedicating them to Howard. An elaboration of Howard's system was eventually formally adopted by the International Meteorological Conference in 1891.[5] This system covered only the tropospheric cloud types, but the discovery of clouds above the troposphere during the late 19th century eventually led to the creation separate classification schemes for these very high clouds.[6]

Formation in the homosphere: How air becomes saturated[edit]
Main article: Cloud physics
Terrestrial clouds can be found throughout most of the homosphere, which includes the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere. Within these layers of the atmosphere, air can become saturated as a result of being cooled to its dew point or by having moisture added from an adjacent source.[7] In the latter case, saturation occurs when the dew point is raised to the ambient air temperature.
Adiabatic cooling[edit]
Adiabatic cooling occurs when one or more of three possible lifting agents – cyclonic/frontal, convective, or orographic – causes a parcel of air containing invisible water vapor to rise and cool to its dew point, the temperature at which the air becomes saturated. The main mechanism behind this process is adiabatic cooling.[8] As the air is cooled to its dew point and becomes saturated, water vapor normally condenses to form cloud drops. This condensation normally occurs on cloud condensation nuclei such as salt or dust particles that are small enough to be held aloft by normal circulation of the air.[9][10]
Frontal and cyclonic lift occur when stable air is forced aloft at weather fronts and around centers of low pressure by a process called convergence.[11] Warm fronts associated with extratropical cyclones tend to generate mostly cirriform and stratiform clouds over a wide area unless the approaching warm airmass is unstable, in which case cumulus congestus or cumulonimbus clouds will usually be embedded in the main precipitating cloud layer.[12] Cold fronts are usually faster moving and generate a narrower line of clouds which are mostly stratocumuliform, cumuliform, or cumulonimbiform depending on the stability of the warm air mass just ahead of the front.[13]
Play media
Animation of cloud evolution from cumulus humilis to cumulonimbus capillatus incus
Another agent is the convective upward motion of air caused by daytime solar heating at surface level.[9] Airmass instability allows for the formation of cumuliform clouds that can produce showers if the air is sufficiently moist.[14] On moderately rare occasions, convective lift can be powerful enough to penetrate the tropopause and push the cloud top into the stratosphere.[15]
A third source of lift is wind circulation forcing air over a physical barrier such as a mountain (orographic lift).[9] If the air is generally stable, nothing more than lenticular cap clouds will form. However, if the air becomes sufficiently moist and unstable, orographic showers or thunderstorms may appear.[16]
Windy evening twilight enhanced by the Sun's angle, can visually mimic a tornado resulting from orographic lift
Non-adiabatic cooling[edit]
Along with adiabatic cooling that requires a lifting agent, there are three major non-adiabatic mechanisms for lowering the temperature of the air to its dew point. Conductive, radiational, and evaporative cooling require no lifting mechanism and can cause condensation at surface level resulting in the formation of fog.[17][18][19]
Adding moisture to the air[edit]
There are several main sources of water vapor that can be added to the air as a way of achieving saturation without any cooling process: water or moist ground,[20][21][22] precipitation or virga,[23] and transpiration from plants[24]
Classification: How clouds are identified in the troposphere[edit]
For a comprehensive listing of over 90 combinations of genera divided into species and subdivided into varieties with Latin etymologies, see List of cloud types.
Tropospheric classification is based on a hierarchy of categories with physical forms and altitude levels at the top.[25][26] These are cross-classified into a total of ten genus types, most of which can be divided into species and further subdivided into varieties which are at the bottom of the hierarchy.[27]
Physical forms[edit]
Clouds in the troposphere assume five physical forms based on structure and process of formation. These forms are commonly used for the purpose of satellite analysis.[25] They are given below in approximate ascending order of instability or convective activity.[28]
Stratiform[edit]
Non-convective stratiform clouds appear in stable airmass conditions and, in general, have flat sheet-like structures that can form at any altitude in the troposphere.[29] The stratiform group is divided by altitude range into the genera cirrostratus (high-level), altostratus (mid-level), stratus (low-level), and nimbostratus (multi-level).[26] Fog is commonly considered a surface-based cloud layer.[16] The fog may form at surface level in clear air or it may be the result of a very low stratus cloud subsiding to ground or sea level. Conversely, low stratiform cloud results when advection fog is lifted above surface level during breezy conditions.
Cirriform[edit]
Cirriform clouds are generally of the genus cirrus and have the appearance of detached or semi-merged filaments. They form at high tropospheric altitudes in air that is mostly stable with little or no convective activity, although denser patches may occasionally show buildups caused by limited high-level convection where the air is partly unstable.[30]
Stratocumuliform[edit]
Clouds of this structure have both cumuliform and stratiform characteristics in the form of rolls, ripples, or elements.[31] They generally form as a result of limited convection in an otherwise mostly stable airmass topped by an inversion layer.[32] If the inversion layer is absent or higher in the troposphere, increased air mass instability may cause the cloud layers to develop tops in the form of turrets consisting of embedded cumuliform buildups.[33] The stratocumuliform group is divided into cirrocumulus (high-level), altocumulus (mid-level), and stratocumulus (low-level).[31]
Cumuliform[edit]
Cumuliform clouds generally appear in isolated heaps or tufts.[34][35] They are the product of localized but generally free-convective lift where there are no inversion layers in the atmosphere to limit vertical growth. In general, small cumuliform clouds tend to indicate comparatively weak instability. Larger cumuliform types are a sign of moderate to strong atmospheric instability and convective activity.[36] Depending on their vertical size, clouds of the cumulus genus type may be low-level or multi-level with moderate to towering vertical extent.[26]
Cumulonimbiform[edit]
See also: Atmospheric convection
The largest free-convective clouds comprise the genus cumulonimbus which are multi-level because of their towering vertical extent. They occur in highly unstable air[9] and often have fuzzy outlines at the upper parts of the clouds that sometimes include anvil tops.[31]
Levels and genera[edit]
See also: Weather map and Station model
Genus classification and identification by altitude of occurrence. Multi-level types not limited by altitude include the two main precipitating clouds, cumulonimbus and nimbostratus. The latter has been horizontally compressed in this depiction.
Tropospheric clouds form in any of three levels (formerly called étages) based on altitude range above the Earth's surface. The grouping of clouds into levels is commonly done for the purposes of cloud atlases, surface weather observations[26] and weather maps.[37] The base-height range for each level varies depending on the latitudinal geographical zone.[26] Each altitude level comprises two or three genus types differentiated mainly by physical form.[38][31]
The standard levels and genus-types are summarised below in approximate descending order of the altitude at which each is normally based.[39] Multi-level clouds with significant vertical extent are separately listed and summarized in approximate ascending order of instability or convective activity.[28]
High-level[edit]
High cirrus uncinus and cirrus fibratus (see also 'species and varieties' section) upper-left merging into cirrostratus fibratus with some higher cirrocumulus floccus upper right
High clouds form at altitudes of 3,000 to 7,600 m (10,000 to 25,000 ft) in the polar regions, 5,000 to 12,200 m (16,500 to 40,000 ft) in the temperate regions and 6,100 to 18,300 m (20,000 to 60,000 ft) in the tropics.[26] All cirriform clouds are classified as high and thus constitute a single genus cirrus (Ci). Stratocumuliform and stratiform clouds in the high altitude range carry the prefix cirro-, yielding the respective genus names cirrocumulus (Cc) and cirrostratus (Cs). When limited-resolution satellite images of high clouds are analysed without supporting data from direct human observations, it becomes impossible to distinguish between individual forms or genus types, which are then collectively identified as high-type (or informally as cirrus-type even though not all high clouds are of the cirrus form or genus).[40]
Genus cirrus (Ci):
These are mostly fibrous wisps of delicate white cirriform ice crystal cloud that show up clearly against the blue sky.[30] Cirrus are generally non-convective except castellanus and floccus subtypes which show limited convection. They often form along a high altitude jetstream[41] and at the very leading edge of a frontal or low-pressure disturbance where they may merge into cirrostratus. This high-level cloud genus does not produce precipitation.[39]
Genus cirrocumulus (Cc):
A large field of cirrocumulus stratiformis
This is a pure white high stratocumuliform layer of limited convection. It is composed of ice crystals or supercooled water droplets appearing as small unshaded round masses or flakes in groups or lines with ripples like sand on a beach.[42][43] Cirrocumulus occasionally forms alongside cirrus and may be accompanied or replaced by cirrostratus clouds near the leading edge of an active weather system. This genus-type occasionally produces virga, precipitation that evaporates below the base of the cloud.[12]
Genus cirrostratus (Cs):
Cirrostratus is a thin non-convective stratiform ice crystal veil that typically gives rise to halos caused by refraction of the sun's rays. The sun and moon are visible in clear outline.[44] Cirrostratus doesn't produce precipitaion, but often thickens into altostratus ahead of a warm front or low-pressure area which sometimes does. [45]
Mid-level[edit]
Sunrise scene giving a shine to an altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus cloud (see also 'species and varieties)
Non-vertical clouds in the middle level are prefixed by alto-, yielding the genus names altocumulus (Ac) for stratocumuliform types and altostratus (As) for stratiform types. These clouds can form as low as 2,000 m (6,500 ft) above surface at any latitude, but may be based as high as 4,000 m (13,000 ft) near the poles, 7,000 m (23,000 ft) at mid latitudes, and 7,600 m (25,000 ft) in the tropics.[26] As with high clouds, the main genus types are easily identified by the human eye, but it is not possible to distinguish between them using satellite photography. Without the support of human observations, these clouds are usually collectively identified as middle-type on satellite images.[40]
Genus altocumulus (Ac):
This is a mid-level cloud layer of limited convection that is usually appears in the form of irregular patches or more extensive sheets arranges in groups, lines, or waves.[46] Altocumulus may occasionally resemble cirrocumulus but is usually thicker and composed of a mix of water droplets and ice crystals, so that the bases show at least some light-grey shading.[47] Altocumulus can produce virga, very light precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground.[48]
Genus altostratus (As):
Altostratus translucidus near top of photo merging into altostratus opacus near bottom
Altostratus is a mid-level opaque or translucent non-convective veil of grey/blue-grey cloud that often forms along warm fronts and around low-pressure areas. Altostratus is usually composed of water droplets but may be mixed with ice crystals at higher altitudes. Widespread opaque altostratus can produce light continuous or intermittent precipitation.[49]
Low-level[edit]
Low clouds are found from near surface up to 2,000 m (6,500 ft).[26] Genus types in this level either have no prefix or carry one that refers to a characteristic other than altitude. Clouds that form in the low level of the troposphere are generally of larger structure than those that form in the middle and high levels, so they can usually be identified by their forms and genus types using satellite photography alone.[40]
Stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus over Galapagos, Tortuga Bay (see also 'species and varieties')
Genus stratocumulus (Sc):
This genus type is a stratocumuliform cloud layer of limited convection, usually in the form of irregular patches or more extensive sheets similar to altocumulus but having larger elements with deeper-gray shading.[50] Stratocumulus is often present during wet weather originating from other rain clouds, but can only produce very light precipitation on its own.[51]
Genus cumulus (Cu); species humilis – little vertical extent:
These are small detached fair-weather cumuliform clouds that have nearly horizontal bases and flattened tops, and do not produce rain showers.[52]
Genus stratus (St):
Stratus nebulosus translucidus
This is a flat or sometimes ragged non-convective stratiform type that sometimes resembles elevated fog.[53] Only very weak precipitation can fall from this cloud, usually drizzle or snow grains.[54][55] When a very low stratus cloud subsides to surface level, it loses its Latin terminology and is given the common name fog if the prevailing surface visibility is less than 1 kilometer.[56] If the visibility is 1 kilometer or higher, the visible condensation is termed mist.[57]
Multi-level (low to mid-level cloud base)[edit]
Moderate to deep vertical nimbostratus cloud covering the sky with a scattered layer of low stratus fractus pannus (see also 'species' and 'supplementary features' sections)
These clouds have low to middle level bases that form anywhere from near surface to about 2,400 m (8,000 ft) and tops that can extend into the high altitude range. Nimbostratus and some cumulus in this group usually achieve moderate or deep vertical extent, but without towering structure. However, with sufficient airmass instability, upward-growing cumuliform clouds can grow to high towering proportions. Although genus types with vertical extent are often informally considered a single group,[58] the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) distinguishes towering vertical clouds more formally as a separate group or sub-group. It is specified that these very large cumuliform and cumulonimbiform types must be identified by their standard names or abbreviations in all aviation observations (METARS) and forecasts (TAFS) to warn pilots of possible severe weather and turbulence.[59] Multi-level clouds are of even larger structure than low clouds, and are therefore identifiable by their forms and genera, (and even species in the case of cumulus congestus) using satellite photography.[40]
Moderate and deep vertical[edit]
Cumulus humilis and cumulus mediocris with stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus in the foreground (see also 'species and varieties')
Genus nimbostratus (Ns):
This is a diffuse dark-grey non-convective stratiform layer with great horizontal extent and moderate to deep vertical development. It lacks towering structure and looks feebly illuminated from the inside.[60] Nimbostratus normally forms from mid-level altostratus, and develops at least moderate vertical extent[58][61] when the base subsides into the low level during precipitation that can reach moderate to heavy intensity. It commonly achieves deep vertical development when it simultaneously grows upward into the high level due to large scale frontal or cyclonic lift.[62] The nimbo- prefix refers to its ability to produce continuous rain or snow over a wide area, especially ahead of a warm front.[63] This thick cloud layer may be accompanied by embedded towering cumuliform or cumulonimbiform types.[61][64] Meteorologists affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) officially classify nimbostratus as mid-level for synoptic purposes while informally characterizing it as multi-level.[26] Independent meteorologists and educators appear split between those who largely follow the WMO model[58][61] and those who classify nimbostratus as low-level, despite its considerable vertical extent and its usual initial formation in the middle altitude range.[65][66]
Genus cumulus (Cu); species mediocris – moderate vertical extent:
These cumuliform clouds of free convection have clear-cut medium-grey flat bases and white domed tops in the form of small sproutings and generally do not produce precipitation.[52] They usually form in the low level of the troposphere except during conditions of very low relative humidity when the clouds bases can rise into the middle altitude range. Moderate cumulus is officially classified as low-level and more informally characterized as having vertical extent that can involve more than one altitude level.[26]
Towering vertical[edit]
See also: Atmospheric convection
Towering vertical cumulus congestus embedded within a layer of cumulus mediocris. Higher layer of stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus.
Progressive evolution of a Single Cell Thunderstorm
These clouds are sometimes classified separately from the other vertical or multi-level types because of their ability to produce severe turbulence.[59]
Genus cumulus (Cu); species congestus – great vertical extent:
Increasing airmass instability can cause free-convective cumulus to grow very tall to the extent that the vertical height from base to top is greater than the base-width of the cloud. The cloud base takes on a darker grey coloration and the top commonly resembles a cauliflower. This cloud type can produce moderate to heavy showers[52] and is designated Towering cumulus (Tcu) by ICAO.[59]
Genus cumulonimbus (Cb):
Isolated cumulonimbus cloud over the Mojave Desert, releasing a heavy shower
This genus type is a heavy towering cumulonimbiform mass of free convective cloud with a dark-grey to nearly black base and a very high top in the form of a mountain or huge tower.[67] Cumulonimbus can produce thunderstorms, local very heavy downpours of rain that may cause flash floods, and a variety of types of lightning including cloud-to-ground that can cause wildfires.[68] Other convective severe weather may or may not be associated with thunderstorms and include heavy snow showers, hail,[69] strong wind shear, downbursts,[70] and tornadoes.[71] Of all these possible cumulonimbus-related events, lightning is the only one of these that requires a thunderstorm to be taking place since it is the lightning that creates the thunder. Cumulonimbus clouds can form in unstable airmass conditions, but tend to be more concentrated and intense when they are associated with unstable cold fronts.[13]
Species and varieties[edit]
Altocumulus lenticularis forming over mountains in Wyoming with lower layer of cumulus mediocris and higher layer of cirrus spissatus
Genus types are commonly divided into subtypes called species that indicate specific structural details which can vary according to the stability and windshear characteristics of the atmosphere at any given time and location. Despite this hierarchy, a particular species may be a subtype of more than one genus, especially if the genera are of the same physical form and are differentiated from each other mainly by altitude or level. There are a few species, each of which can be associated with genera of more than one physical form.[72] The species types are grouped below according to the physical forms and genera with which each is normally associated. The forms, genera, and species are listed in approximate ascending order of instability or convective activity.[28]
Genus and species types are further subdivided into varieties whose names can appear after the species name to provide a fuller description of a cloud. Some cloud varieties are not restricted to a specific altitude level or form, and can therefore be common to more than one genus or species.[73]
Species[edit]
Stable or mostly stable[edit]
Of the stratiform group, high-level cirrostratus comprises two species. Cirrostratus nebulosus has a rather diffuse appearance lacking in structural detail.[74] Cirrostratus fibratus is a species made of semi-merged filaments that are transitional to or from cirrus.[75] Mid-level altostratus and multi-level nimbostratus always have a flat or diffuse appearance and are therefore not subdivided into species. Low stratus is of the species nebulosus[74] except when broken up into ragged sheets of stratus fractus (see below).[58][72][76]
Cirriform clouds have three non-convective species that can form in mostly stable airmass conditions. Cirrus fibratus comprise filaments that may be straight, wavy, or occasionally twisted by non-convective wind shear.[75] The species uncinus is similar but has upturned hooks at the ends. Cirrus spissatus appear as opaque patches that can show light grey shading.[72]
Stratocumuliform genus-types (cirrocumulus, altocumulus, and stratocumulus) that appear in mostly stable air have two species each. The stratiformis species normally occur in extensive sheets or in smaller patches where there is only minimal convective activity.[77] Clouds of the lenticularis species tend to have lens-like shapes tapered at the ends. They are most commonly seen as orographic mountain-wave clouds, but can occur anywhere in the troposphere where there is strong wind shear combined with sufficient airmass stability to maintain a generally flat cloud structure. These two species can be found in the high, middle, or low level of the troposphere depending on the stratocumuliform genus or genera present at any given time.[58][72][76]
Ragged[edit]
The species fractus shows variable instability because it can be a subdivision of genus-types of different physical forms that have different stability characteristics. This subtype can be in the form of ragged but mostly stable stratiform sheets (stratus fractus) or small ragged cumuliform heaps with somewhat greater instability (cumulus fractus).[72][76][78] When clouds of this species are associated with precipitating cloud systems of considerable vertical and sometimes horizontal extent, they are also classified as accessory clouds under the name pannus (see section on supplementary features).[79]
Partly unstable[edit]
These species are subdivisions of genus types that can occur in partly unstable air. The species castellanus appears when a mostly stable stratocumuliform or cirriform layer becomes disturbed by localized areas of airmass instability, usually in the morning or afternoon. This results in the formation of cumuliform buildups arising from a common stratiform base.[80] Castellanus resembles the turrets of a castle when viewed from the side, and can be found with stratocumuliform genera at any tropospheric altitude level and with limited-convective patches of high-level cirrus.[81] Tufted clouds of the more detached floccus species are subdivisions of genus-types which may be cirriform or stratocumuliform in overall structure. They are sometimes seen with cirrus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus, and stratocumulus.[82]
A newly recognized species of stratocumulus or altocumulus has been given the name volutus, a roll cloud that can occur ahead of a cumulonimbus formation.[83] There are some volutus clouds that form as a consequence of interactions with specific geographical features rather than with a parent cloud. Perhaps the strangest geographically specific cloud of this type is the Morning Glory, a rolling cylindrical cloud that appears unpredictably over the Gulf of Carpentaria in Northern Australia. Associated with a powerful "ripple" in the atmosphere, the cloud may be "surfed" in glider aircraft.[84]
Unstable or mostly unstable[edit]
More general airmass instability in the troposphere tends to produce clouds of the more freely convective cumulus genus type, whose species are mainly indicators of degrees of atmospheric instability and resultant vertical development of the clouds. A cumulus cloud initially forms in the low level of the troposphere as a cloudlet of the species humilis that shows only slight vertical development. If the air becomes more unstable, the cloud tends to grow vertically into the species mediocris, then congestus, the tallest cumulus species[72] which is the same type that the International Civil Aviation Organization refers to as 'towering cumulus'.[59]
With highly unstable atmospheric conditions, large cumulus may continue to grow into cumulonimbus calvus (essentially a very tall congestus cloud that produces thunder), then ultimately into the species capillatus when supercooled water droplets at the top of the cloud turn into ice crystals giving it a cirriform appearance.[72][76]
Varieties[edit]
Opacity-based[edit]
A layer of stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus hiding the setting sun with a background layer of stratocumulus cumulogenitus resembling distant mountains.
All cloud varieties fall into one of two main groups. One group identifies the opacities of particular low and mid-level cloud structures and comprises the varieties translucidus (thin translucent), perlucidus (thick opaque with translucent or very small clear breaks), and opacus (thick opaque). These varieties are always identifiable for cloud genera and species with variable opacity. All three are associated with the stratiformis species of altocumulus and stratocumulus. However, only two varieties are seen with altostratus and stratus nebulosus whose uniform structures prevent the formation of a perlucidus variety. Opacity-based varieties are not applied to high clouds because they are always translucent, or in the case of cirrus spissatus, always opaque.[73][85]
Pattern-based[edit]
Cirrus fibratus radiatus over ESO's La Silla Observatory[86]
A second group describes the occasional arrangements of cloud structures into particular patterns that are discernible by a surface-based observer (cloud fields usually being visible only from a significant altitude above the formations). These varieties are not always present with the genera and species with which they are otherwise associated, but only appear when atmospheric conditions favor their formation. Intortus and vertebratus varieties occur on occasion with cirrus fibratus. They are respectively filaments twisted into irregular shapes, and those that are arranged in fishbone patterns, usually by uneven wind currents that favor the formation of these varieties. The variety radiatus is associated with cloud rows of a particular type that appear to converge at the horizon. It is sometimes seen with the fibratus and uncinus species of cirrus, the stratiformis species of altocumulus and stratocumulus, the mediocris and sometimes humilis species of cumulus,[87][88] and with the genus altostratus.[89]
Altocumulus stratiformis duplicatus at sunrise in the California Mojave Desert, USA (higher layer orange to white; lower layer grey)
Another variety, duplicatus (closely spaced layers of the same type, one above the other), is sometimes found with cirrus of both the fibratus and uncinus species, and with altocumulus and stratocumulus of the species stratiformis and lenticularis. The variety undulatus (having a wavy undulating base) can occur with any clouds of the species stratiformis or lenticularis, and with altostratus. It is only rarely observed with stratus nebulosus. The variety lacunosus is caused by localized downdrafts that create circular holes in the form of a honeycomb or net. It is occasionally seen with cirrocumulus and altocumulus of the species stratiformis, castellanus, and floccus, and with stratocumulus of the species stratiformis and castellanus.[73][85]
Combinations[edit]
It is possible for some species to show combined varieties at one time, especially if one variety is opacity-based and the other is pattern-based. An example of this would be a layer of altocumulus stratiformis arranged in seemingly converging rows separated by small breaks. The full technical name of a cloud in this configuration would be altocumulus stratiformis radiatus perlucidus, which would identify respectively its genus, species, and two combined varieties.[76][73][85]
Accessory clouds, supplementary features, and other derivative types[edit]
See also: List of cloud types
Supplementary features and accessory clouds are not further subdivisions of cloud types below the species and variety level. Rather, they are either hydrometeors or special cloud types with their own Latin names that form in association with certain cloud genera, species, and varieties.[76][85] Supplementary features, whether in the form of clouds or precipitation, are directly attached to the main genus-cloud. Accessory clouds, by contrast, are generally detached from the main cloud.[90]
Precipitation-based supplementary features[edit]
One group of supplementary features are not actual cloud formations, but precipitation that falls when water droplets or ice crystals that make up visible clouds have grown too heavy to remain aloft. Virga is a feature seen with clouds producing precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground, these being of the genera cirrocumulus, altocumulus, altostratus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus, cumulus, and cumulonimbus.[90]
When the precipitation reaches the ground without completely evaporating, it is designated as the feature praecipitatio.[91] This normally occurs with altostratus opacus, which can produce widespread but usually light precipitation, and with thicker clouds that show significant vertical development. Of the latter, upward-growing cumulus mediocris produces only isolated light showers, while downward growing nimbostratus is capable of heavier, more extensive precipitation. Towering vertical clouds have the greatest ability to produce intense precipitation events, but these tend to be localized unless organized along fast-moving cold fronts. Showers of moderate to heavy intensity can fall from cumulus congestus clouds. Cumulonimbus, the largest of all cloud genera, has the capacity to produce very heavy showers. Low stratus clouds usually produce only light precipitation, but this always occurs as the feature praecipitatio due to the fact this cloud genus lies too close to the ground to allow for the formation of virga.[76][85][90]
Cloud-based supplementary features[edit]
Incus is the most type-specific supplementary feature, seen only with cumulonimbus of the species capillatus. A cumulonimbus incus cloud top is one that has spread out into a clear anvil shape as a result of rising air currents hitting the stability layer at the tropopause where the air no longer continues to get colder with increasing altitude.[92]
The mamma feature forms on the bases of clouds as downward-facing bubble-like protuberances caused by localized downdrafts within the cloud. It is also sometimes called mammatus, an earlier version of the term used before a standardization of Latin nomenclature brought about by the World Meterorological Organization during the 20th century. The best-known is cumulonimbus with mammatus, but the mamma feature is also seen occasionally with cirrus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus, altostratus, and stratocumulus.[90]
A tuba feature is a cloud column that may hang from the bottom of a cumulus or cumulonimbus. A newly formed or poorly organized column might be comparatively benign, but can quickly intensify into a funnel cloud or tornado.[90][93][94]
An arcus feature is a roll cloud with ragged edges attached to the lower front part of cumulus congestus or cumulonimbus that forms along the leading edge of a squall line or thunderstorm outflow.[95] A large arcus formation can have the appearance of a dark menacing arch.[90]
Several new supplementary features have been formally recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The feature fluctus can form under conditions of strong atmospheric wind shear when a stratocumulus, altocumulus, or cirrus cloud breaks into regularly spaced crests. This variant is sometimes known informally as a Kelvin–Helmholtz (wave) cloud. This phenomenon has also been observed in cloud formations over other planets and even in the sun's atmosphere.[96] Another highly disturbed but more chaotic wave-like cloud feature associated with stratocumulus or altocumulus cloud has been given the Latin name asperitas. The supplementary feature cavum is a circular fall-streak hole that occasionally forms in a thin layer of supercooled altocumulus or cirrocumulus. Fall streaks consisting of virga or wisps of cirrus are usually seen beneath the hole as ice crystals fall out to a lower altitude. This type of hole is usually larger than typical lacunosus holes. A murus feature is a cumulonimbus wall cloud with a lowering, rotating cloud base than can lead to the development of tornadoes. A cauda feature is a tail cloud that extends horizontally away from the murus cloud and is the result of air feeding into the storm.[83]
Accessory clouds[edit]
Supplementary cloud formations detached from the main cloud are known as accessory clouds.[76][85][90] The heavier precipitating clouds, nimbostratus, towering cumulus (cumulus congestus), and cumulonimbus typically see the formation in precipitation of the pannus feature, low ragged clouds of the genera and species cumulus fractus or stratus fractus.[79]
A group of accessory clouds comprise formations that are associated mainly with upward-growing cumuliform and cumulonimbiform clouds of free convection. Pileus is a cap cloud that can form over a cumulonimbus or large cumulus cloud,[97] whereas a velum feature is a thin horizontal sheet that sometimes forms like an apron around the middle or in front of the parent cloud.[90] An accessory cloud recently officially recognized the World meteorological Organization is the flumen, also known more informally as the beaver's tail. It is formed by the warm, humid inflow of a super-cell thunderstorm, and can be mistaken for a tornado. Although the flumen can indicate a tornado risk, it is similar in appearance to pannus or scud clouds and does not rotate.[83]
Mother clouds[edit]
Cumulus partly spreading into stratocumulus cumulogenitus over the port of Piraeus in Greece
Clouds initially form in clear air or become clouds when fog rises above surface level. The genus of a newly formed cloud is determined mainly by air mass characteristics such as stability and moisture content. If these characteristics change over time, the genus tends to change accordingly. When this happens, the original genus is called a mother cloud. If the mother cloud retains much of its original form after the appearance of the new genus, it is termed a genitus cloud. One example of this is stratocumulus cumulogenitus, a stratocumulus cloud formed by the partial spreading of a cumulus type when there is a loss of convective lift. If the mother cloud undergoes a complete change in genus, it is considered to be a mutatus cloud.[98]
Cumulonimbus mother cloud dissipating into stratocumulus cumulonimbogenitus at dusk
Other genitus and mutatus clouds[edit]
The genitus and mutatus categories have been expanded to include certain types that do not originate from pre-existing clouds. The term flammagenitus (Latin for 'fire-made') applies to cumulus congestus or cumulonimbus that are formed by large scale fires or volcanic eruptions. Smaller low-level "pyrocumulus" or "fumulus" clouds formed by contained industrial activity are now classified as cumulus homogenitus (Latin for 'man-made'). Contrails formed from the exhaust of aircraft flying in the upper level of the troposphere can persist and spread into formations resembling any of the high cloud genus-types and are now officially designated as cirrus, cirrostratus, or cirrocumulus homogenitus. If a homogenitus cloud of one genus changes to another genus type, it is then termed a homomutatus cloud. Stratus cataractagenitus (Latin for 'cataract-made') are generated by the spray from waterfalls. Silvagenitus (Latin for 'forest-made') is a stratus cloud that forms as water vapor is added to the air above a forest canopy.[83]
Stratocumulus fields[edit]
Stratocumulus clouds can be organized into "fields" that take on certain specially classified shapes and characteristics. In general, these fields are more discernible from high altitudes than from ground level. They can often be found in the following forms:
Actinoform, which resembles a leaf or a spoked wheel.
Closed cell, which is cloudy in the center and clear on the edges, similar to a filled honeycomb.[99]
Open cell, which resembles an empty honeycomb, with clouds around the edges and clear, open space in the middle.[100]
Vortex streets[edit]
Main article: Karman vortex street
Cirrus fibratus intortus formed into a Kármán vortex street at evening twilight
These patterns are formed from a phenomenon known as a Kármán vortex which is named after the engineer and fluid dynamicist Theodore von Kármán,.[101] Wind driven clouds can form into parallel rows that follow the wind direction. When the wind and clouds encounter high elevation land features such as a vertically prominent islands, they can form eddies around the high land masses that give the clouds a twisted appearance.[102]
Distribution: Where tropospheric clouds are most and least prevalent[edit]
Convergence along low-pressure zones[edit]
Main articles: Intertropical convergence zone, Extratropical cyclone, Cold front, and Warm front
Global cloud cover, averaged over the month of October 2009. NASA composite satellite image.[103]
Play media
These maps display the fraction of Earth's area that was cloudy on average during each month from January 2005 to August 2013. The measurements were collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite. Colors range from blue (no clouds) to white (totally cloudy). Like a digital camera, MODIS collects information in gridded boxes, or pixels. Cloud fraction is the portion of each pixel that is covered by clouds. Colors range from blue (no clouds) to white (totally cloudy).[104] (click for more detail)
Although the local distribution of clouds can be significantly influenced by topography, the global prevalence of cloud cover in the troposphere tends to vary more by latitude. It is most prevalent in and along low pressure zones of surface tropospheric convergence which encircle the Earth close to the equator and near the 50th parallels of latitude in the northern and southern hemispheres.[105] The adiabatic cooling processes that lead to the creation of clouds by way of lifting agents are all associated with convergence; a process that involves the horizontal inflow and accumulation of air at a given location, as well as the rate at which this happens.[106] Near the equator, increased cloudiness is due to the presence of the low-pressure Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where very warm and unstable air promotes mostly cumuliform and cumulonimbiform clouds.[107] Clouds of virtually any type can form along the mid-latitude convergence zones depending on the stability and moisture content of the air. These extratropical convergence zones are occupied by the polar fronts where air masses of polar origin meet and clash with those of tropical or subtropical origin.[108] This leads to the formation of weather-making extratropical cyclones composed of cloud systems that may be stable or unstable to varying degrees according to the stability characteristics of the various airmasses that are in conflict.[109]
Divergence along high pressure zones[edit]
Main articles: Subtropical ridge and Polar high
Divergence is the opposite of convergence. In the Earth's troposphere, it involves the horizontal outflow of air from the upper part of a rising column of air, or from the lower part of a subsiding column often associated with an area or ridge of high pressure.[106] Cloudiness tends to be least prevalent near the poles and in the subtropics close to the 30th parallels, north and south. The latter are sometimes referred to as the horse latitudes. The presence of a large-scale high-pressure subtropical ridge on each side of the equator reduces cloudiness at these low latitudes.[110] Similar patterns also occur at higher latitudes in both hemispheres.[111]
Luminance, reflectivity, and coloration[edit]
The luminance or brightness of a cloud is determined by how light is reflected, scattered, and transmitted by the cloud's particles. Its brightness may also be affected by the presence of haze or photometeors such as halos and rainbows.[112] In the troposphere, dense, deep clouds exhibit a high reflectance (70% to 95%) throughout the visible spectrum. Tiny particles of water are densely packed and sunlight cannot penetrate far into the cloud before it is reflected out, giving a cloud its characteristic white color, especially when viewed from the top.[113] Cloud droplets tend to scatter light efficiently, so that the intensity of the solar radiation decreases with depth into the gases. As a result, the cloud base can vary from a very light to very-dark-grey depending on the cloud's thickness and how much light is being reflected or transmitted back to the observer. High thin tropospheric clouds reflect less light because of the comparatively low concentration of constituent ice crystals or supercooled water droplets which results in a slightly off-white appearance. However, a thick dense ice-crystal cloud appears brilliant white with pronounced grey shading because of its greater reflectivity.[112]
As a tropospheric cloud matures, the dense water droplets may combine to produce larger droplets. If the droplets become too large and heavy to be kept aloft by the air circulation, they will fall from the cloud as rain. By this process of accumulation, the space between droplets becomes increasingly larger, permitting light to penetrate farther into the cloud. If the cloud is sufficiently large and the droplets within are spaced far enough apart, a percentage of the light that enters the cloud is not reflected back out but is absorbed giving the cloud a darker look. A simple example of this is one's being able to see farther in heavy rain than in heavy fog. This process of reflection/absorption is what causes the range of cloud color from white to black.[114]
Striking cloud colorations can be seen at any altitude, with the color of a cloud usually being the same as the incident light.[115] During daytime when the sun is relatively high in the sky, tropospheric clouds generally appear bright white on top with varying shades of grey underneath. Thin clouds may look white or appear to have acquired the color of their environment or background. Red, orange, and pink clouds occur almost entirely at sunrise/sunset and are the result of the scattering of sunlight by the atmosphere. When the sun is just below the horizon, low-level clouds are gray, middle clouds appear rose-colored, and high clouds are white or off-white. Clouds at night are black or dark grey in a moonless sky, or whitish when illuminated by the moon. They may also reflect the colors of large fires, city lights, or auroras that might be present.[115]
A cumulonimbus cloud that appears to have a greenish or bluish tint is a sign that it contains extremely high amounts of water; hail or rain which scatter light in a way that gives the cloud a blue color. A green colorization occurs mostly late in the day when the sun is comparatively low in the sky and the incident sunlight has a reddish tinge that appears green when illuminating a very tall bluish cloud. Supercell type storms are more likely to be characterized by this but any storm can appear this way. Coloration such as this does not directly indicate that it is a severe thunderstorm, it only confirms its potential. Since a green/blue tint signifies copious amounts of water, a strong updraft to support it, high winds from the storm raining out, and wet hail; all elements that improve the chance for it to become severe, can all be inferred from this. In addition, the stronger the updraft is, the more likely the storm is to undergo tornadogenesis and to produce large hail and high winds.[116]
Yellowish clouds may be seen in the troposphere in the late spring through early fall months during forest fire season. The yellow color is due to the presence of pollutants in the smoke. Yellowish clouds are caused by the presence of nitrogen dioxide and are sometimes seen in urban areas with high air pollution levels.[117]
Stratocumulus stratiformis and small castellanus made orange by the sun rising
An occurrence of cloud iridescence with altocumulus volutus and cirrocumulus stratiformis
Sunset reflecting shades of pink onto grey stratocumulus stratiformis translucidus (becoming perlucidus in the background)
Stratocumulus stratiformis perlucidus before sunset. Bangalore, India.
Late-summer rainstorm in Denmark. Nearly black color of base indicates main cloud in foreground probably cumulonimbus.
Particles in the atmosphere and the sun's angle enhance colors of stratocumulus cumulogenitus at evening twilight
Effects on the troposphere, climate, and climate change[edit]
See also: Cloud cover, Cloud feedback, Global warming, Global dimming, and Climate change
Clouds exert numerous influences on Earth's troposphere and climate. First and foremost, they are the source of precipitation, thereby greatly influencing the distribution and amount of precipitation. Because of their differential buoyancy relative to surrounding cloud-free air, clouds can be associated with vertical motions of the air that may be convective, frontal, or cyclonic. The motion is upward if the clouds are less dense because condensation of water vapor releases heat, warming the air and thereby decreasing its density. This can lead to downward motion because lifting of the air results in cooling that increases its density. All of these effects are subtly dependent on the vertical temperature and moisture structure of the atmosphere and result in major redistribution of heat that affect the Earth's climate.[118]
The complexity and diversity of clouds is a major reason for difficulty in quantifying the effects of clouds on climate and climate change. On the one hand, white cloud tops promote cooling of Earth's surface by reflecting shortwave radiation (visible and near infrared) from the sun, diminishing the amount of solar radiation that is absorbed at the surface, enhancing the Earth's albedo. Most of the sunlight that reaches the ground is absorbed, warming the surface, which emits radiation upward at longer, infrared, wavelengths. At these wavelengths, however, water in the clouds acts as an efficient absorber. The water reacts by radiating, also in the infrared, both upward and downward, and the downward longwave radiation results in increased warming at the surface. This is analogous to the greenhouse effect of greenhouse gases and water vapor.[118]
High-level genus-types particularly show this duality with both short-wave albedo cooling and long-wave greenhouse warming effects. On the whole, ice-crystal clouds in the upper troposphere (cirrus) tend to favor net warming.[119][120] However, the cooling effect is dominant with mid-level and low clouds, especially when they form in extensive sheets.[119] Measurements by NASA indicate that on the whole, the effects of low and mid-level clouds that tend to promote cooling outweigh the warming effects of high layers and the variable outcomes associated with vertically developed clouds.[119]
As difficult as it is to evaluate the influences of current clouds on current climate, it is even more problematic to predict changes in cloud patterns and properties in a future, warmer climate, and the resultant cloud influences on future climate. In a warmer climate more water would enter the atmosphere by evaporation at the surface; as clouds are formed from water vapor, cloudiness would be expected to increase. But in a warmer climate, higher temperatures would tend to evaporate clouds. Both of these statements are considered accurate, and both phenomena, known as cloud feedbacks, are found in climate model calculations. Broadly speaking, if clouds, especially low clouds, increase in a warmer climate, the resultant cooling effect leads to a negative feedback in climate response to increased greenhouse gases. But if low clouds decrease, or if high clouds increase, the feedback is positive. Differing amounts of these feedbacks are the principal reason for differences in climate sensitivities of current global climate models. As a consequence, much research has focused on the response of low and vertical clouds to a changing climate. Leading global models produce quite different results, however, with some showing increasing low clouds and others showing decreases.[121][122] For these reasons the role of tropospheric clouds in regulating weather and climate remains a leading source of uncertainty in global warming projections.[123][124]
For Global brightening, see Global dimming.
Polar stratospheric[edit]
Stratospheric nacreous clouds over Antarctica
Polar stratospheric clouds show little variation in structure and are limited to a single very high range of altitude of about 15,000–25,000 m (49,200–82,000 ft), so they are not classified into altitude levels, genus types, species, or varieties in the manner of tropospheric clouds.[6]
Polar stratospheric clouds form in the lowest part of the stratosphere during the winter, at the altitude and during the season that produces the coldest temperatures and therefore the best chances of triggering condensation caused by adiabatic cooling. They are typically very thin with an undulating cirriform appearance.[125] Moisture is scarce in the stratosphere, so nacreous and non-nacreous cloud at this altitude range is restricted to polar regions in the winter where the air is coldest.[6]
Polar mesospheric[edit]
Noctilucent cloud over Estonia
Polar mesospheric clouds form at a single extreme altitude range of about 80 to 85 km (50 to 53 mi) and are consequently not classified into more than one level. They are given the Latin name noctilucent because of their illumination well after sunset and before sunrise. They typically have a bluish or silvery white coloration that can resemble brightly illuminated cirrus. Noctilucent clouds may occasionally take on more of a red or orange hue.[126] They are not common or widespread enough to have a significant effect on climate.[127] However, an increasing frequency of occurrence of noctilucent clouds since the 19th century may be the result of climate change.[128]
Noctilucent clouds are the highest in the atmosphere and form near the top of the mesosphere at about ten times the altitude of tropospheric high clouds.[129] From ground level, they can occasionally be seen illuminated by the sun during deep twilight. Ongoing research indicates that convective lift in the mesosphere is strong enough during the polar summer to cause adiabatic cooling of small amount of water vapour to the point of saturation. This tends to produce the coldest temperatures in the entire atmosphere just below the mesopause. These conditions result in the best environment for the formation of polar mesospheric clouds.[127] There is also evidence that smoke particles from burnt-up meteors provide much of the condensation nuclei required for the formation of noctilucent cloud.[130]
Distribution in the mesosphere is similar to the stratosphere except at much higher altitudes. Because of the need for maximum cooling of the water vapor to produce noctilucent clouds, their distribution tends to be restricted to polar regions of Earth. A major seasonal difference is that convective lift from below the mesosphere pushes very scarce water vapor to higher colder altitudes required for cloud formation during the respective summer seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Sightings are rare more than 45 degrees south of the north pole or north of the south pole.[126]
Extraterrestrial[edit]
See also: Extraterrestrial atmospheres
Cloud cover has been seen on most other planets in the solar system. Venus's thick clouds are composed of sulfur dioxide (due to volcanic activity) and appear to be almost entirely stratiform.[131] They are arranged in three main layers at altitudes of 45 to 65 km that obscure the planet's surface and can produce virga. No embedded cumuliform types have been identified, but broken stratocumuliform wave formations are sometimes seen in the top layer that reveal more continuous layer clouds underneath.[132] On Mars, noctilucent, cirrus, cirrocumulus and stratocumulus composed of water-ice have been detected mostly near the poles.[133][134] Water-ice fogs have also been detected on Mars.[135]
Both Jupiter and Saturn have an outer cirriform cloud deck composed of ammonia,[136][137] an intermediate stratiform haze-cloud layer made of ammonium hydrosulfide, and an inner deck of cumulus water clouds.[138][139] Embedded cumulonimbus are known to exist near the Great Red Spot on Jupiter.[140][141] The same category-types can be found covering Uranus, and Neptune, but are all composed of methane.[142][143][144][145][146][147] Saturn's moon Titan has cirrus clouds believed to be composed largely of methane.[148][149] The Cassini–Huygens Saturn mission uncovered evidence of polar stratospheric clouds[150] and a methane cycle on Titan, including lakes near the poles and fluvial channels on the surface of the moon.[151]
Some planets outside the solar system are known to have atmospheric clouds. In October 2013, the detection of high altitude optically thick clouds in the atmosphere of exoplanet Kepler-7b was announced,[152][153] and, in December 2013, in the atmospheres of GJ 436 b and GJ 1214 b.[154][155][156][157]
In culture and religion[edit]
Joshua Passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant (1800) by Benjamin West, showing Yahweh leading the Israelites through the desert in the form of a pillar of cloud, as described in Exodus 13:21–22[158]
Clouds play an important role in various cultures and religious traditions. The ancient Akkadians believed that the clouds were the breasts of the sky goddess Antu[159] and that rain was milk from her breasts.[159] In Exodus 13:21-22, Yahweh is described as guiding the Israelites through the desert in the form of a "pillar of cloud" by day and a "pillar of fire" by night.[158] In the ancient Greek comedy The Clouds, written by Aristophanes and first performed at the City Dionysia in 423 BC, the philosopher Socrates declares that the Clouds are the only true deities[160] and tells the main character Strepsiades not to worship any deities other than the Clouds, but to pay homage to them alone.[160] In the play, the Clouds change shape to reveal the true nature of whoever is looking at them,[161][160][162] turning into centaurs at the sight of a long-haired politician, wolves at the sight of the embezzler Simon, deer at the sight of the coward Cleonymus, and mortal women at the sight of the sight of the effeminate informer Cleisthenes.[161][162][160] They are hailed the source of inspiration to comic poets and philosophers;[160] they are masters of rhetoric, regarding eloquence and sophistry alike as their "friends".[160] In China, clouds are symbols of luck and happiness.[163] Overlapping clouds are thought to imply eternal happiness[163] and clouds of different colors are said to indicate "multiplied blessings".[163]
See also[edit]
Weather portal
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) (in the US)
Bioprecipitation
Cloud albedo
Cloud Appreciation Society
Cloud forcing
Cloud seeding
Cloudscape (art)
Cloudscape photography
Coalescence
Extraterrestrial skies
Flight ceiling
Fog
Mist
Mushroom cloud
Pileus (meteorology)
Precipitation
Sunshine duration
Undulatus asperatus
Weather lore
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Weather Terms". National Weather Service. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
Jump up ^ Harper, Douglas (2012). "Cloud". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
Jump up ^ "Cloud". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
Jump up ^ Toth, Garry; Hillger, Don, eds. (2007). "Ancient and pre-Renaissance Contributors to Meteorology". Colorado State University. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (1975). International Cloud Atlas, preface to the 1939 edition (PDF). I. pp. IX–XIII. ISBN 978-92-63-10407-6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Upper atmoospheric clouds, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 31 July 2017.
Jump up ^ Bart van den Hurk; Eleanor Blyth (2008). "Global maps of Local Land-Atmosphere coupling" (PDF). KNMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
Jump up ^ Nave, R. (2013). "Adiabatic Process". gsu.edu. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Elementary Meteorology Online (2013). "Humidity, Saturation, and Stability". vsc.edu. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
Jump up ^ Horstmeyer, Steve (2008). "Cloud Drops, Rain Drops". Retrieved 19 March 2012.
Jump up ^ Elementary Meteorology Online (2013). "Lifting Along Frontal Boundaries". vsc.edu. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b "Mackerel sky". Weather Online. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Lee M. Grenci; Jon M. Nese (2001). A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology: A Text / Laboratory Manual (3 ed.). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. pp. 207–212. ISBN 978-0-7872-7716-1. OCLC 51160155.
Jump up ^ Freud, E.; Rosenfeld, D. (2012). "Linear relation between convective cloud drop number concentration and depth for rain initiation". Journal of Geophysical Research. 117 (D2): n/a. Bibcode:2012JGRD..117.2207F. doi:10.1029/2011JD016457.
Jump up ^ Long, Michael J.; Hanks, Howard H.; Beebe, Robert G. (June 1965). "TROPOPAUSE PENETRATIONS BY CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b Pidwirny, M. (2006). "Cloud Formation Processes" Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine., chapter 8 in Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2nd ed.
Jump up ^ Ackerman, p. 109
Jump up ^ Glossary of Meteorology (2009). "Radiational cooling". American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
Jump up ^ Fovell, Robert (2004). "Approaches to saturation" (PDF). University of California in Los Angeles. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
Jump up ^ Pearce, Robert Penrose (2002). Meteorology at the Millennium. Academic Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-12-548035-2.
Jump up ^ Bart van den Hurk; Eleanor Blyth (2008). "Global maps of Local Land-Atmosphere coupling" (PDF). KNMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
Jump up ^ JetStream (2008). "Air Masses". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
Jump up ^ National Weather Service Office, Spokane, Washington (2009). "Virga and Dry Thunderstorms". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2 January 2009. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
Jump up ^ Reiley, H. Edward; Shry, Carroll L. (2002). Introductory horticulture. Cengage Learning. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7668-1567-4.
^ Jump up to: a b E.C. Barrett; C.K. Grant (1976). "The identification of cloud types in LANDSAT MSS images". NASA. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Definitions, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 30 March 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Principles, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 9 May 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c Pilotfriend, ed. (2016). "Meteorology". Pilotfriend. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
Jump up ^ NASA, ed. (2015). "Stratiform or Stratus Clouds". Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cirrus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cloud Identification Guide, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 4 April 2017.
Jump up ^ Laufersweiler, M. J.; Shirer, H. N. (1995). "A theoretical model of multi-regime convection in a stratocumulus-topped boundary layer". Boundary-Layer Meteorology. 73 (4): 373–409. Bibcode:1995BoLMe..73..373L. doi:10.1007/BF00712679.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Altocumulus Castellanus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 4 April 2017.
Jump up ^ "Cumulus clouds". Weather. USA Today. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
Jump up ^ Stommel, H. (1947). "Entrainment of Air into a Cumulus Cloud". Journal of Meteorology. 4 (3): 91–94. Bibcode:1947JAtS....4...91S. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1947)004<0091:EOAIAC>2.0.CO;2.
Jump up ^ Mossop, S. C.; Hallett, J. (1974). "Ice Crystal Concentration in Cumulus Clouds: Influence of the Drop Spectrum". Science. 186 (4164): 632–634. Bibcode:1974Sci...186..632M. doi:10.1126/science.186.4164.632. PMID 17833720.
Jump up ^ JetStream (2008). How to read weather maps. Archived 22 June 2012 at WebCite National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Appearance of Clouds, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (1995). "WMO cloud classifications" (PDF). Retrieved 1 February 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Colorado State University Dept. of Atmospheric Science, ed. (2015). "Cloud type identification by satellites" (PDF). Colorado State University. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
Jump up ^ Vincent J. Schaefer (October 1952). "Cloud Forms of the Jet Stream". Tellus. 5 (1): 27–31. Bibcode:1953TellA...5...27S. doi:10.1111/j.2153-3490.1953.tb01032.x.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cirrocumulus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ Miyazaki, R.; Yoshida, S.; Dobashi, Y.; Nishita, T. (2001). "A method for modeling clouds based on atmospheric fluid dynamics". Proceedings Ninth Pacific Conference on Computer Graphics and Applications. Pacific Graphics 2001. p. 363. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.76.7428. doi:10.1109/PCCGA.2001.962893. ISBN 978-0-7695-1227-3.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cirrostratus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (1975). Altostratus, International Cloud Atlas (PDF). I. pp. 35–37. ISBN 978-92-63-10407-6. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Altocumulus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Ac Compared With Cc, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 6 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Met Office, ed. (2017). "Mid Level Clouds - Altocumulus". Retrieved 6 April 2018.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Altostratus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Stratocumulus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ Met Office, ed. (2016). "Stratocumulus". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b c World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cumulus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Stratus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Drizzle, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Snow Grains, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Colorado State University, ed. (2000). "Stratus and Fog". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Met Office, ed. (2017). "Difference Between Mist and Fog". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Clouds Online (2012). "Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 1 February 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b c d de Valk, Paul; van Westhrenen, Rudolf; Carbajal Henken, Cintia (2010). "Automated CB and TCU detection using radar and satellite data: from research to application" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Nimbostratus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c Koermer, Jim (2011). "Plymouth State Meteorology Program Cloud Boutique". Plymouth State University.
Jump up ^ American Meteorological Society (2012). "Glossary of Meteorology". Retrieved 9 January 2014.
Jump up ^ Ackerman, p. 118
Jump up ^ Houze, Robert A. (1994). Cloud Dynamics. Academic Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-08-050210-6.
Jump up ^ Hatheway, Becca (2009). "Cloud Types". Windows to the Universe, US National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA). Retrieved 15 September 2011.
Jump up ^ "cloud: Classification of Clouds". Infoplease.com.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Cumulonimbus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
Jump up ^ Scott A (2000). "The Pre-Quaternary history of fire". Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol. 164 (1–4): 281–329. Bibcode:2000PPP...164..281S. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00192-9.
Jump up ^ National Center for Atmospheric Research (2008). "Hail". University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
Jump up ^ Fujita, Ted (1985). "The Downburst, microburst and macroburst". SMRP Research Paper 210.
Jump up ^ Renno, N. O. (2008). "A thermodynamically general theory for convective vortices". Tellus A. 60 (4): 688–699. Bibcode:2008TellA..60..688R. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0870.2008.00331.x.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Species, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Varieties, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 1 February 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Nebulosus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Fibratus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Boyd, Sylke (2008). "Clouds – Species and Varieties". University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Stratiformis, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 2 June 2017.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Species Fractus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Accessory Cloud Pannus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Stephen F. Corfidi; Sarah J. Corfidi; David M Schultz (2008). "Weather and Forecasting" (Submitted manuscript). Weather and Forecasting. 23 (6): 1282. Bibcode:2008WtFor..23.1280C. doi:10.1175/2008WAF2222118.1.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Species Castellanus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Species Floccus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Sutherland, Scott (March 23, 2017). "Cloud Atlas leaps into 21st century with 12 new cloud types". The Weather Network. Pelmorex Media. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
Jump up ^ Abbie Thomas (7 August 2003). "Soaring the glory". ABC Science. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Aerographer/Meteorology (2012). "Cloud Variety". meteorologytraining.tpub.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
Jump up ^ "Sculpting La Silla's Skies". www.eso.org. ESO. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
Jump up ^ Cumulus-skynews (2013). "Clouds: Their curious natures". Retrieved 26 August 2014.
Jump up ^ Pretor-Pinney, Gavin (2007). The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds. Penguin Group. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-101-20331-6.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Variety Radiatus, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Features, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 1 February 2018.
Jump up ^ Dunlop 2003, pp. 77–78
Jump up ^ "Cumulonimbus Incus". Universities Space Research Association. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
Jump up ^ Aerographer/Meteorology (2012). "Roll cloud formation on cumulonimbus". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
Jump up ^ Dunlop 2003, p. 79
Jump up ^ Ludlum, David McWilliams (2000). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Weather. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 473. ISBN 978-0-679-40851-2. OCLC 56559729.
Jump up ^ Fox, Karen C. "NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Catches "Surfer" Waves on the Sun". NASA-The Sun-Earth Connection: Heliophysics. NASA.
Jump up ^ Garrett, T. J.; Dean-Day, J.; Liu, C.; Barnett, B.; Mace, G.; Baumgardner, D.; Webster, C.; Bui, T.; Read, W.; Minnis, P. (2006). "Convective formation of pileus cloud near the tropopause". Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 6 (5): 1185–1200. doi:10.5194/acp-6-1185-2006.
Jump up ^ World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Mother clouds, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 2 June 2017.
Jump up ^ Koren, I.; Feingold, G. (2013). "Adaptive behavior of marine cellular clouds". Scientific Reports. 3: 2507. Bibcode:2013NatSR...3E2507K. doi:10.1038/srep02507. PMC 3753593. PMID 23978979.
Jump up ^ "Cloud Formations off the West Coast of South America". NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
Jump up ^ Theodore von Kármán, Aerodynamics. McGraw-Hill (1963): ISBN 978-0-07-067602-2. Dover (1994): ISBN 978-0-486-43485-8.
Jump up ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ed. (2001). "Vortex Streets". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
Jump up ^ For a larger image see this image at earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Jump up ^ "Cloud Fraction : Global Maps". nasa.gov. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
Jump up ^ Kondratʹev, Kirill Iakovlevich (2006). Atmospheric aerosol properties: formation, processes and impacts. Springer. p. 403. ISBN 978-3-540-26263-3.
^ Jump up to: a b Wei-hung, Leung (2010). "Meteorology Basics: Convergence and Divergence". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
Jump up ^ "Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone". JetStream – Online School for Weather. NOAA. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
Jump up ^ Kushnir, Yochanan (2000). "The Climate System: General Circulation and Climate Zones". Retrieved 13 March 2012.
Jump up ^ Williams, Jack (27 June 1997). "Extratropical storms are major weather makers". USA Today. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
Jump up ^ Cai, Wenju; Van Rensch, Peter; Cowan, Tim (2011). American Meteorological Society, ed. "Subtropical Ridge". Journal of Climate. 24 (23): 6035. Bibcode:2011JCli...24.6035C. doi:10.1175/2011JCLI4149.1.
Jump up ^ PMF IAS, ed. (2015). "Atmospheric Pressure Belts and Wind Systems PMF IAS Pressure Belts". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Luminance, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 10 May 2017.
Jump up ^ Increasing Cloud Reflectivity Archived 11 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine., Royal Geographical Society, 2010.
Jump up ^ Hileman, B. (1995). "Clouds absorb more solar radiation than researchers previously thought". Chemical & Engineering News. 73 (7): 33. doi:10.1021/cen-v073n007.p033.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Coloration, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
Jump up ^ University of Wisconsen-Madison-News, ed. (2007). "Curiosities-Green sky before tornado". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
Jump up ^ Nagle, Garrett (1998). "10. Cities and Air Pollution". Hazards. Nelson Thornes. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-17-490022-1.
^ Jump up to: a b "Cloud Climatology". International Satellite Cloud Climatology Program. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b c Ackerman, p. 124
Jump up ^ Franks, F. (2003). "Nucleation of ice and its management in ecosystems". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 361 (1804): 557–74. Bibcode:2003RSPTA.361..557F. doi:10.1098/rsta.2002.1141. PMID 12662454.
Jump up ^ Bony, S. (2005). "Marine boundary layer clouds at the heart of tropical cloud feedback uncertainties in climate models". Geophysical Research Letters. 32 (20): L20806. Bibcode:2005GeoRL..3220806B. doi:10.1029/2005GL023851.
Jump up ^ Medeiros, B.; Stevens, B.; Held, I. M.; Zhao, M.; Williamson, D. L.; Olson, J. G.; Bretherton, C. S. (2008). "Aquaplanets, Climate Sensitivity, and Low Clouds". Journal of Climate. 21 (19): 4974–4991. Bibcode:2008JCli...21.4974M. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.620.6314. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI1995.1.
Jump up ^ Randall, D. et al. (2007) "Climate models and their evaluation" in S. Solomon, D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K. Averyt, M.Tignor, and H. Miller (eds.) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
Jump up ^ "Will Clouds Speed or Slow Global Warming?". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
Jump up ^ Les Cowley (2011). "Nacreous clouds". atoptics.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b World Meteorological Organization, ed. (2017). "Upper atmospheric clouds, International Cloud Atlas". Retrieved 31 July 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Turco, R. P.; Toon, O. B.; Whitten, R. C.; Keesee, R. G.; Hollenbach, D. (1982). "Noctilucent clouds: Simulation studies of their genesis, properties and global influences". Planetary and Space Science. 30 (11): 1147–1181. Bibcode:1982P&SS...30.1147T. doi:10.1016/0032-0633(82)90126-X.
Jump up ^ Project Possum, ed. (2017). "About Noctiluent Clouds". Retrieved 6 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Michael Gadsden; Pekka Parviainen (September 2006). Observing Noctilucent Clouds (PDF). International Association of Geomagnetism & Aeronomy. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
Jump up ^ Fox, Karen C. (2013). "NASA Sounding Rocket Observes the Seeds of Noctilucent Clouds". Retrieved 1 October 2013.
Jump up ^ Bougher, Stephen Wesley; Phillips, Roger (1997). Venus II: Geology, Geophysics, Atmosphere, and Solar Wind Environment. University of Arizona Press. pp. 127–129. ISBN 978-0-8165-1830-2.
Jump up ^ Shiga, David (2006). "Mysterious waves seen in Venus's clouds". New Scientist. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
Jump up ^ SPACE.com staff (2006-08-28). "Mars Clouds Higher Than Any On Earth". SPACE.com. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
Jump up ^ "Clouds Move Across Mars Horizon". Phoenix Photographs. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
Jump up ^ "NASA SP-441: Viking Orbiter Views of Mars". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Phillips, Tony (20 May 2010). "Big Mystery: Jupiter Loses a Stripe". Nasa Headline News – 2010. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
Jump up ^ Dougherty, Michele; Esposito, Larry (November 2009). Saturn from Cassini-Huygens (1 ed.). Springer. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4020-9216-9. OCLC 527635272.
Jump up ^ Ingersoll, A.P.; Dowling, T.E.; Gierasch, P.J.; Orton, G.S.; Read, P.L.; Sanchez-Lavega, A.; Showman, A.P.; Simon-Miller, A.A.; Vasavada, A.R. "Dynamics of Jupiter's Atmosphere" (PDF). Lunar & Planetary Institute. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
Jump up ^ Monterrey Institute for Research in Astronomy (11 August 2006). "Saturn". Retrieved 31 January 2011.
Jump up ^ "Thunderheads on Jupiter". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Minard, Anne (14 October 2008). "Mysterious Cyclones Seen at Both of Saturn's Poles". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Taylor Redd, Nola (2012). "Neptune's Atmosphere: Composition, Climate, & Weather". Space.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
Jump up ^ Boyle, Rebecca (18 October 2012). "Check Out The Most Richly Detailed Image Ever Taken Of Uranus". Popular Science.
Jump up ^ Irwin, Patrick (July 2003). Giant Planets of Our Solar System: Atmospheres, Composition, and Structure (1 ed.). Springer. p. 115. ISBN 978-3-540-00681-7.
Jump up ^ "Uranus". Scholastic. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
Jump up ^ Lunine, Jonathan I. (September 1993). "The Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune". Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics. 31: 217–263. Bibcode:1993ARA&A..31..217L. doi:10.1146/annurev.aa.31.090193.001245.
Jump up ^ Elkins-Tanton, Linda T. (2006). Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Outer Solar System. New York: Chelsea House. pp. 79–83. ISBN 978-0-8160-5197-7.
Jump up ^ Athéna Coustenis; F.W. Taylor (2008). Titan: Exploring an Earthlike World. World Scientific. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-981-270-501-3.
Jump up ^ "Surprise Hidden in Titan's Smog: Cirrus-Like Clouds". Mission News. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
Jump up ^ Elizabeth Zubritsky (2016). "NASA Scientists find impossible cloud on titan". Retrieved 1 November 2016.
Jump up ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ed. (2008). "NASA Confirms Liquid Lake On Saturn Moon, Cassini Mission News". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
Jump up ^ Chu, Jennifer (2 October 2013). "Scientists generate first map of clouds on an exoplanet". MIT. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
Jump up ^ Demory, B. O.; De Wit, J.; Lewis, N.; Fortney, J.; Zsom, A.; Seager, S.; Knutson, H.; Heng, K.; Madhusudhan, N.; Gillon, M.; Barclay, T.; Desert, J. M.; Parmentier, V.; Cowan, N. B. (2013). "Inference of Inhomogeneous Clouds in an Exoplanet Atmosphere". The Astrophysical Journal. 776 (2): L25. arXiv:1309.7894. Bibcode:2013ApJ...776L..25D. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/776/2/L25.
Jump up ^ Harrington, J.D.; Weaver, Donna; Villard, Ray (31 December 2013). "Release 13-383 – NASA's Hubble Sees Cloudy Super-Worlds With Chance for More Clouds". NASA. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
Jump up ^ Moses, J. (2014). "Extrasolar planets: Cloudy with a chance of dustballs". Nature. 505 (7481): 31–32. Bibcode:2014Natur.505...31M. doi:10.1038/505031a. PMID 24380949.
Jump up ^ Knutson, H. A.; Benneke, B. R.; Deming, D.; Homeier, D. (2014). "A featureless transmission spectrum for the Neptune-mass exoplanet GJ 436b". Nature. 505 (7481): 66–68. arXiv:1401.3350. Bibcode:2014Natur.505...66K. doi:10.1038/nature12887. PMID 24380953.
Jump up ^ Kreidberg, L.; Bean, J. L.; Désert, J. M.; Benneke, B. R.; Deming, D.; Stevenson, K. B.; Seager, S.; Berta-Thompson, Z.; Seifahrt, A.; Homeier, D. (2014). "Clouds in the atmosphere of the super-Earth exoplanet GJ 1214b". Nature. 505 (7481): 69–72. arXiv:1401.0022. Bibcode:2014Natur.505...69K. doi:10.1038/nature12888. PMID 24380954.
^ Jump up to: a b Gertz, Jan Christian (2014). "The Miracle at the Sea: Remarks on the Recent Discussion about Origin and Composition of the Exodus Narrative". The Book of Exodus: Composition, Reception, and Interpretation. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. p. 111. ISBN 978-90-04-28266-7.
^ Jump up to: a b Nemet-Nejat, Karen Rhea (1998). Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. Daily Life. Greenwood. p. 182. ISBN 978-0313294976.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Strauss, Leo (1966). Socrates and Aristophanes. Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 17–21, 29. ISBN 978-0-226-77719-1.
^ Jump up to: a b Roche, Paul (2005). Aristophanes: The Complete Plays: A New Translation by Paul Roche. New York City, New York: New American Library. pp. 149–150. ISBN 978-0-451-21409-6.
^ Jump up to: a b Robson, James (2017). Grig, Lucy, ed. Popular Culture in the Ancient World. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-107-07489-7.
^ Jump up to: a b c Ding, Ersu (2010). Parallels, Interactions, and Illuminations: Traversing Chinese and Western Theories of the Sign. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4426-4048-1.
Bibliography[edit]
Ackerman, Steven A. (2011). Meteorology: Clouds and the Greenhouse Effect. Jones & Bartlett. ISBN 978-0-7637-8927-5.
External links[edit]
Find more aboutCloudat Wikipedia's sister projects
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Wikimedia Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Learning resources from Wikiversity
Current global map of total cloud water
Monthly maps of global cloud cover, from NASA's Earth Observatory
[1] WMO International Cloud Atlas
show
v
t
e
Meteorological data and variables
General
Adiabatic processes
Advection
Buoyancy
Lapse rate
Lightning
Surface solar radiation
Surface weather analysis
Visibility
Vorticity
Wind
Wind shear
Condensation
Cloud
Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)
Fog
Convective condensation level (CCL)
Lifted condensation level (LCL)
Precipitation
Water vapor
Convection
Convective available potential energy (CAPE)
Convective inhibition (CIN)
Convective instability
Convective momentum transport
Convective temperature (Tc)
Equilibrium level (EL)
Free convective layer (FCL)
Helicity
K Index
Level of free convection (LFC)
Lifted index (LI)
Maximum parcel level (MPL)
Bulk Richardson number (BRN)
Temperature
Dew point (Td)
Dew point depression
Dry-bulb temperature
Equivalent temperature (Te)
Forest fire weather index
Haines Index
Heat index
Humidex
Humidity
Relative humidity (RH)
Mixing ratio
Potential temperature (θ)
Equivalent potential temperature (θe)
Sea surface temperature (SST)
Thermodynamic temperature
Vapor pressure
Virtual temperature
Wet-bulb temperature
Wet-bulb potential temperature
Wind chill
Pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Baroclinity
Barotropicity
Pressure gradient
Pressure-gradient force (PGF)
show
v
t
e
Cloud genera and selected species, supplementary features, and other airborne hydrometeors - WMO Latin terminology except where indicated
Extreme-level
Polar mesospheric cirriform type
Noctilucent
Very high-level
Polar stratospheric cirriform type
Nacreous
High-level
Tropospheric cirriform, stratiform, and stratocumuliform genera
Cirrus (Ci)
Cirrostratus (Cs)
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
General type (non-WMO terminology)
Aviaticus cloud (Contrail)
Medium-level
Tropospheric stratiform and stratocumuliform genera
Altostratus (As)
Altocumulus (Ac)
Stratocumuliform species
Altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas)
Low-level
Tropospheric stratiform, stratocumuliform and cumuliform genera
Stratus (St)
Stratocumulus (Sc)
Cumulus (Cu)
Horseshoe
Stratiform and cumuliform species
Fractus
Cumulus humilis (Cu hum)
Stratocumulus variants (non-WMO terminology)
Actinoform cloud
Asperitas
Moderate vertical
Tropospheric stratiform and cumuliform genera
Nimbostratus (Ns)
Cumulus (Cu)
Cumuliform species
Cumulus mediocris (Cu med)
Cumuliform supplementary features
Cumulus Pileus
Cumulus Volutus
Towering vertical
Tropospheric cumulonimbiform genus
Cumulonimbus (Cb)
Cumuliform species
Cumulus congestus (ICAO term Towering cumulus [Tcu])
Cumuliform and cumulonimbiform supplementary features
mamma
Tuba (Funnel cloud)
Pileus
Arcus (Shelf)
Cumuliform and cumulonimbiform variants (non-WMO terminology)
Wall cloud
Cumulonimbuus Overshooting top
Hot tower
Surface based
General type
Fog
Non-height specific
General types
Accessory cloud
Kelvin–Helmholtz cloud
Special
Special modifiers
Flammagenitus (cloud)
Homogenitus (cloud)
Authority control
NDL: 00566990
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cloud&oldid=865772454"
Categories:
Clouds
Climate forcing agents
Clouds, fog and precipitation
Hidden categories:
Webarchive template wayback links
CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list
Webarchive template webcite links
Good articles
Wikipedia pending changes protected pages
Use dmy dates from November 2014
Pages with numeric Bible version references
Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers
Articles containing video clips
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
In other projects
Wikimedia Commons
Wikiquote
Wikiversity
Languages
Afrikaans
Alemannisch
አማርኛ
Ænglisc
العربية
Aragonés
ܐܪܡܝܐ
Armãneashti
Asturianu
Avañe'ẽ
Aymar aru
Azərbaycanca
تۆرکجه
বাংলা
Bahasa Banjar
Bân-lâm-gú
Башҡортса
Беларуская
Беларуская (тарашкевіца)
भोजपुरी
Български
Boarisch
བོད་ཡིག
Bosanski
Brezhoneg
Буряад
Català
Čeština
Corsu
Cymraeg
Dansk
Deitsch
Deutsch
Eesti
Ελληνικά
Emiliàn e rumagnòl
Эрзянь
Español
Esperanto
Estremeñu
Euskara
فارسی
Français
Frysk
Furlan
Gaeilge
Gaelg
Gàidhlig
Galego
ગુજરાતી
客家語/Hak-kâ-ngî
한국어
Հայերեն
हिन्दी
Hrvatski
Ido
Ilokano
Bahasa Indonesia
Interlingua
ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ/inuktitut
IsiXhosa
Íslenska
Italiano
עברית
Basa Jawa
ಕನ್ನಡ
Къарачай-малкъар
ქართული
Қазақша
Kiswahili
Kreyòl ayisyen
Kurdî
Кыргызча
Latina
Latviešu
Lëtzebuergesch
Lietuvių
Ligure
Limburgs
Lingála
La .lojban.
Lumbaart
Magyar
मैथिली
Македонски
Malagasy
മലയാളം
मराठी
მარგალური
Bahasa Melayu
Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄
Монгол
Nāhuatl
Nederlands
नेपाली
नेपाल भाषा
日本語
Napulitano
Nordfriisk
Norsk
Norsk nynorsk
Nouormand
Occitan
ଓଡ଼ିଆ
Oʻzbekcha/ўзбекча
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
پنجابی
Papiamentu
پښتو
Patois
Plattdüütsch
Polski
Português
Română
Runa Simi
Русиньскый
Русский
Саха тыла
ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ
Scots
Seeltersk
Sesotho sa Leboa
Shqip
Sicilianu
Simple English
سنڌي
Slovenčina
Slovenščina
Soomaaliga
کوردی
Српски / srpski
Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски
Basa Sunda
Suomi
Svenska
Tagalog
தமிழ்
Татарча/tatarça
తెలుగు
ไทย
Тоҷикӣ
ᏣᎳᎩ
Tsetsêhestâhese
Türkçe
Тыва дыл
Українська
اردو
Vahcuengh
Vèneto
Vepsän kel’
Tiếng Việt
Võro
Walon
Winaray
吴语
ייִדיש
粵語
Zazaki
Žemaitėška
中文
डोटेली
Kabɩyɛ
Lingua Franca Nova
154 more
Edit links
This page was last edited on 26 October 2018, at 01:42 (UTC).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

key: html

type: local

value: div

attrs: id class

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: a

value: img

attrs: alt src width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: This is a good article. Follow the link for more information.

attrs: href title

values: mw-indicator-good-star mw-indicator

values: Page protected with pending changes level 1

values: All edits by unregistered and new users are subject to review prior to becoming visible to unregistered users

values: mw-indicator-pp-autoreview mw-indicator

attrs: id class lang

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

attrs: class src alt title

values: Changes must be reviewed before being displayed on this page.

attrs: id class src style alt

attrs: class href

value: i

attrs: id style class

values: flaggedrevs_short flaggedrevs_stable_synced plainlinks noprint nomobile

values: mw-jump-link #mw-head

values: mw-jump-link #p-search

value: p

values:
/wiki/Cloud_(disambiguation)
mw-disambig
Cloud (disambiguation)

values:
/wiki/Swifts_Creek,_Victoria
mw-redirect
Swifts Creek, Victoria

values:
/wiki/Polar_mesospheric_cloud
mw-redirect
Polar mesospheric cloud

values:
/wiki/Cumulus_humilis
mw-redirect
Cumulus humilis

values:
/wiki/Cumulus_mediocris
mw-redirect
Cumulus mediocris

values:
/wiki/Cumulus_congestus
mw-redirect
Cumulus congestus

values: checkbox button toctogglecheckbox toctogglecheckbox display:none

values: <video id="mwe_player_1" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/854px--Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" autoplay="" style="width:854px;height:476px" class="kskin" data-durationhint="23.8" data-startoffset="0" data-mwtitle="Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.480p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="SD WebM (480P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 480P" data-transcodekey="480p.webm" data-width="854" data-height="476" data-bandwidth="1017032" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="SD VP9 (480P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 480P" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="476" data-bandwidth="1202104" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.720p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="HD WebM (720P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 720P" data-transcodekey="720p.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="714" data-bandwidth="1958944" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8"" data-title="Original WebM file, 1,920 × 1,072 (2.33 Mbps)" data-shorttitle="WebM source" data-width="1920" data-height="1072" data-bandwidth="2326407" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="HD VP9 (720P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 720P" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="714" data-bandwidth="2387856" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.1080p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Full HD WebM (1080P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 1080P" data-transcodekey="1080p.webm" data-width="1920" data-height="1072" data-bandwidth="3955584" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.1080p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Full HD VP9 (1080P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 1080P" data-transcodekey="1080p.vp9.webm" data-width="1920" data-height="1072" data-bandwidth="4234360" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.120p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Lowest bandwidth VP9 (120P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 120P" data-transcodekey="120p.vp9.webm" data-width="214" data-height="118" data-bandwidth="98672" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.160p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Low bandwidth WebM (160P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 160P" data-transcodekey="160p.webm" data-width="286" data-height="160" data-bandwidth="127408" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.180p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Low bandwidth VP9 (180P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 180P" data-transcodekey="180p.vp9.webm" data-width="320" data-height="178" data-bandwidth="190360" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.240p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Small WebM (240P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.webm" data-width="426" data-height="238" data-bandwidth="254112" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Small VP9 (240P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="238" data-bandwidth="310312" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="WebM (360P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 360P" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="358" data-bandwidth="508872" data-framerate="20"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/35/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm/Cloudsatsunset-japan-tokyoarea-40mins-May28-2017.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="VP9 (360P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 360P" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="358" data-bandwidth="599064" data-framerate="20"/></video>

values: Edit section: Etymology and history of cloud science and nomenclature

values: Edit section: Aristotle and Theophrastus

values: Edit section: First comprehensive classification

values: Edit section: Formation in the homosphere: How air becomes saturated

values:
/wiki/Weather_fronts
mw-redirect
Weather fronts

values: File:Cloud evolution in under a minute.ogv

values: <video id="mwe_player_3" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/854px--Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" autoplay="" style="width:854px;height:480px" class="kskin" data-durationhint="35.665850340136" data-startoffset="0" data-mwtitle="Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="SD VP9 (480P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 480P" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" data-bandwidth="347088" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora, vorbis"" data-title="Original Ogg file, 960 × 540 (832 kbps)" data-shorttitle="Ogg source" data-width="960" data-height="540" data-bandwidth="832360" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.480p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="SD WebM (480P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 480P" data-transcodekey="480p.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" data-bandwidth="1039384" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.120p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Lowest bandwidth VP9 (120P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 120P" data-transcodekey="120p.vp9.webm" data-width="214" data-height="120" data-bandwidth="153760" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.160p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Low bandwidth WebM (160P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 160P" data-transcodekey="160p.webm" data-width="284" data-height="160" data-bandwidth="186104" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.180p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Low bandwidth VP9 (180P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 180P" data-transcodekey="180p.vp9.webm" data-width="320" data-height="180" data-bandwidth="171544" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Small VP9 (240P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" data-bandwidth="192584" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.240p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Small WebM (240P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" data-bandwidth="285424" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="VP9 (360P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 360P" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" data-bandwidth="244000" data-framerate="30"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2e/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv/Cloud_evolution_in_under_a_minute.ogv.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="WebM (360P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 360P" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" data-bandwidth="540832" data-framerate="30"/></video>

values: Edit section: Adding moisture to the air

values: Edit section: Classification: How clouds are identified in the troposphere

values:
/wiki/Advection_fog
mw-redirect
Advection fog

values:
/wiki/Cirrus_uncinus
mw-redirect
Cirrus uncinus

values:
/wiki/Polar_region
mw-redirect
Polar region

values: A A large field of cirrocumulus clouds in a blue sky, beginning to merge near the upper left.

values: Edit section: Multi-level (low to mid-level cloud base)

values: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

values: Edit section: Moderate and deep vertical

values: Edit section: Unstable or mostly unstable

values: Edit section: Accessory clouds, supplementary features, and other derivative types

values: Edit section: Precipitation-based supplementary features

values: Edit section: Cloud-based supplementary features

values:
/wiki/Cumulonimbus_with_mammatus
mw-redirect
Cumulonimbus with mammatus

values:
/wiki/Kelvin%E2%80%93Helmholtz_cloud
mw-redirect
Kelvin–Helmholtz cloud

values: Edit section: Other genitus and mutatus clouds

values:
/wiki/Karman_vortex_street
mw-redirect
Karman vortex street

values:
/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_vortex
mw-redirect
Kármán vortex

values: Edit section: Distribution: Where tropospheric clouds are most and least prevalent

values: Edit section: Convergence along low-pressure zones

values:
/wiki/Intertropical_convergence_zone
mw-redirect
Intertropical convergence zone

values: <video id="mwe_player_5" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/472px--MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" autoplay="" style="width:472px;height:316px" class="kskin" data-durationhint="26" data-startoffset="0" data-mwtitle="MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora"" data-title="Original Ogg file, 472 × 316 (450 kbps)" data-shorttitle="Ogg source" data-width="472" data-height="316" data-bandwidth="449650" data-framerate="4"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.120p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Lowest bandwidth VP9 (120P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 120P" data-transcodekey="120p.vp9.webm" data-width="180" data-height="120" data-bandwidth="51120" data-framerate="4"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.160p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Low bandwidth WebM (160P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 160P" data-transcodekey="160p.webm" data-width="238" data-height="160" data-bandwidth="128312" data-framerate="4"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.180p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Low bandwidth VP9 (180P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 180P" data-transcodekey="180p.vp9.webm" data-width="268" data-height="180" data-bandwidth="97992" data-framerate="4"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-title="Small VP9 (240P)" data-shorttitle="VP9 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="358" data-height="240" data-bandwidth="155192" data-framerate="4"/><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/68/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv/MODAL2_M_CLD_FR.ogv.240p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-title="Small WebM (240P)" data-shorttitle="WebM 240P" data-transcodekey="240p.webm" data-width="358" data-height="240" data-bandwidth="256208" data-framerate="4"/></video>

values:
/wiki/Hemispheres_of_the_Earth
mw-redirect
Hemispheres of the Earth

values: Edit section: Divergence along high pressure zones

values: Edit section: Luminance, reflectivity, and coloration

values:
/wiki/Solar_radiation
mw-redirect
Solar radiation

values: Edit section: Effects on the troposphere, climate, and climate change

values:
/wiki/Greenhouse_gases
mw-redirect
Greenhouse gases

values:
/wiki/Noctilucent_clouds
mw-redirect
Noctilucent clouds

values:
/wiki/Extraterrestrial_atmospheres
mw-redirect
Extraterrestrial atmospheres

values: Joshua Passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant (page does not exist)

values:
/wiki/Pillar_of_Cloud
mw-redirect
Pillar of Cloud

values: display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle

values: margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em;border:solid #aaa 1px

values:
/wiki/Atmospheric_Radiation_Measurement
mw-redirect
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement

values:
/wiki/Coalescence_(meteorology)
mw-redirect
Coalescence (meteorology)

values:
/wiki/Flight_ceiling
mw-redirect
Flight ceiling

values:
/wiki/Undulatus_asperatus
mw-redirect
Undulatus asperatus

values: -moz-column-width: 22em; -webkit-column-width: 22em; column-width: 22em;

values:
nofollow
external text
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cloud

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.worldcat.org/oclc/51160155

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1029%2F2011JD016457

values: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

values: Category:CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1007%2FBF00712679

values:
/wiki/PubMed_Identifier
mw-redirect
PubMed Identifier

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17833720

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1109%2FPCCGA.2001.962893

values:
nofollow
external text
https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/drizzle.html

values:
nofollow
external text
http://www.clouds-online.com

values:
nofollow
external text
https://zenodo.org/record/1234533

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1175%2F2008WAF2222118.1

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.worldcat.org/oclc/56559729

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.5194%2Facp-6-1185-2006

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1038%2Fsrep02507

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23978979

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1175%2F2011JCLI4149.1

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1021%2Fcen-v073n007.p033

values:
nofollow
external text
http://www.news.wisc.edu/14039

values:
nofollow
external text
http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov/role.html

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1098%2Frsta.2002.1141

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12662454

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1029%2F2005GL023851

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1175%2F2008JCLI1995.1

values: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.worldcat.org/oclc/527635272

values:
nofollow
external text
//arxiv.org/abs/1309.7894

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1038%2F505031a

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24380949

values:
nofollow
external text
//arxiv.org/abs/1401.3350

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature12887

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24380953

values:
nofollow
external text
//arxiv.org/abs/1401.0022

values:
nofollow
external text
//doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature12888

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24380954

values: Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat (page does not exist)

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values: padding-bottom: 0.75em; text-align: center;

attrs: alt src width height style srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: display: inline-block; width: 31px; line-height: 31px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;

values: display: inline-block; margin-left: 4px; width: 182px; vertical-align: middle;

values: border-top:1px solid #aaa; padding-top: 0.75em;

values: metadata plainlinks plainlist mbox-small

values: border:1px solid #aaa; padding:0.75em; background:#f9f9f9;

values:
/wiki/Earth_Observatory
mw-redirect
Earth Observatory

values:
nofollow
external autonumber
https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/home.html

values: nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible mw-collapsed

values: International Civil Aviation Organization

values:
/wiki/Homogenitus_(cloud)
mw-redirect
Homogenitus (cloud)

values: Category:Webarchive template wayback links

values: Category:Webarchive template webcite links

values: Category:Wikipedia pending changes protected pages

values: Category:Use dmy dates from November 2014

values: Category:Pages with numeric Bible version references

values: Category:Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers

values: Category:Articles containing video clips

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Cloud
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values:
/w/index.php?title=Cloud&action=edit
Edit this page [ctrl-alt-e]
e

values: Past revisions of this page [ctrl-alt-h]

values: p-views navigation vectorTabs p-views-label

values:
p-cactions
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-cactions-label

values:
mw-wiki-logo
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page

values:
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page [ctrl-alt-z]
z

values: Featured content – the best of Wikipedia

values: Find background information on current events

values:
/wiki/Special:Random
Load a random article [ctrl-alt-x]
x

values: portal navigation p-navigation p-navigation-label

values: Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia

values: About the project, what you can do, where to find things

values: A list of recent changes in the wiki [ctrl-alt-r]

values: portal navigation p-interaction p-interaction-label

values: List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [ctrl-alt-j]

values: Recent changes in pages linked from this page [ctrl-alt-k]

values:
/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard
Upload files [ctrl-alt-u]
u

values: A list of all special pages [ctrl-alt-q]

values: Permanent link to this revision of the page

values: Link to connected data repository item [ctrl-alt-g]

values: Printable version of this page [ctrl-alt-p]

values: portal navigation p-wikibase-otherprojects p-wikibase-otherprojects-label

values:
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolk
Wolk – Afrikaans
af
af
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-af
display: none;

values:
https://als.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolke
Wolke – Alemannisch
gsw
gsw
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-als
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-am
display: none;

values:
https://ang.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolcen
Wolcen – Old English
ang
ang
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ang
display: none;

values:
https://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boira
Boira – Aragonese
an
an
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-an
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-arc
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-roa-rup
display: none;

values:
https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nube
Nube – Asturian
ast
ast
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ast
display: none;

values:
https://gn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arai
Arai – Guarani
gn
gn
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-gn
display: none;

values:
https://ay.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qinaya
Qinaya – Aymara
ay
ay
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ay
display: none;

values:
https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulud
Bulud – Azerbaijani
az
az
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-az
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-azb
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bn
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bjn
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ba
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-be
display: none;

values: Хмара – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-be-x-old
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bh
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bg
display: none;

values:
https://bar.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woikn
Woikn – Bavarian
bar
bar
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bar
display: none;

values: སྤྲིན། – Tibetan

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bo
display: none;

values:
https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblak
Oblak – Bosnian
bs
bs
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bs
display: none;

values:
https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koumoul
Koumoul – Breton
br
br
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-br
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bxr
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ca
display: none;

values:
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblak
Oblak – Czech
cs
cs
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-cs
display: none;

values:
https://co.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nivulu
Nivulu – Corsican
co
co
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-co
display: none;

values:
https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwmwl
Cwmwl – Welsh
cy
cy
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-cy
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-da
display: none;

values:
https://pdc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolk
Wolk – Pennsylvania German
pdc
pdc
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pdc
display: none;

values:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolke
Wolke – German
de
de
interlanguage-link-target

values: interlanguage-link interwiki-de badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle

values:
https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilv
Pilv – Estonian
et
et
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-et
display: none;

values: Νέφος – Greek

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-el
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-eml
display: none;

values: Пельть – Erzya

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-myv
display: none;

values:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nube
Nube – Spanish
es
es
interlanguage-link-target

values:
https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubo
Nubo – Esperanto
eo
eo
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-eo
display: none;

values:
https://ext.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuvi
Nuvi – Extremaduran
ext
ext
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ext
display: none;

values:
https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodei
Hodei – Basque
eu
eu
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-eu
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fa
display: none;

values:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuage
Nuage – French
fr
fr
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fr
display: none;

values:
https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolk
Wolk – Western Frisian
fy
fy
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fy
display: none;

values:
https://fur.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BBl
Nûl – Friulian
fur
fur
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fur
display: none;

values:
https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scamall
Scamall – Irish
ga
ga
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ga
display: none;

values:
https://gv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodjal
Bodjal – Manx
gv
gv
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-gv
display: none;

values:
https://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neul
Neul – Scottish Gaelic
gd
gd
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-gd
display: none;

values:
https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nube
Nube – Galician
gl
gl
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-gl
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-gu
display: none;

values:
https://hak.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C3%B9n
Yùn – Hakka Chinese
hak
hak
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hak
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ko
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hy
display: none;

values: बादल – Hindi

values:
https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblaci
Oblaci – Croatian
hr
hr
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hr
display: none;

values:
https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubo
Nubo – Ido
io
io
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-io
display: none;

values:
https://ilo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulep
Ulep – Iloko
ilo
ilo
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ilo
display: none;

values:
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awan
Awan – Indonesian
id
id
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-id
display: none;

values:
https://ia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nube
Nube – Interlingua
ia
ia
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ia
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-iu
display: none;

values:
https://xh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amafu
Amafu – Xhosa
xh
xh
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-xh
display: none;

values:
https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sk%C3%BD
Ský – Icelandic
is
is
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-is
display: none;

values:
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuvola
Nuvola – Italian
it
it
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-it
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-he
display: none;

values:
https://jv.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9ga
Méga – Javanese
jv
jv
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-jv
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-kn
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-krc
display: none;

values: ღრუბელი – Georgian

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ka
display: none;

values: Бұлттар – Kazakh

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-kk
display: none;

values:
https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingu
Wingu – Swahili
sw
sw
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sw
display: none;

values:
https://ht.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nwaj
Nwaj – Haitian Creole
ht
ht
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ht
display: none;

values:
https://ku.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewr
Ewr – Kurdish
ku
ku
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ku
display: none;

values: Булут – Kyrgyz

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ky
display: none;

values:
https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubes
Nubes – Latin
la
la
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-la
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lv
display: none;

values:
https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollek
Wollek – Luxembourgish
lb
lb
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lb
display: none;

values:
https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debesis
Debesis – Lithuanian
lt
lt
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lt
display: none;

values:
https://lij.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuvia
Nuvia – Ligurian
lij
lij
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lij
display: none;

values:
https://li.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolk
Wolk – Limburgish
li
li
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-li
display: none;

values:
https://ln.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipata
Lipata – Lingala
ln
ln
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ln
display: none;

values:
https://jbo.wikipedia.org/wiki/dilnu
dilnu – Lojban
jbo
jbo
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-jbo
display: none;

values:
https://lmo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nivola
Nivola – Lombard
lmo
lmo
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lmo
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hu
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-mai
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-mk
display: none;

values:
https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahona
Rahona – Malagasy
mg
mg
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-mg
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ml
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-mr
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-xmf
display: none;

values:
https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awan
Awan – Malay
ms
ms
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ms
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-cdo
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-mn
display: none;

values:
https://nah.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixtli
Mixtli – Nāhuatl
nah
nah
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nah
display: none;

values:
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolk
Wolk – Dutch
nl
nl
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nl
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ne
display: none;

values: सुपाँय् – Newari

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-new
display: none;

values:
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%B2
雲 – Japanese
ja
ja
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ja
display: none;

values:
https://nap.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nura
Nura – Neapolitan
nap
nap
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nap
display: none;

values:
https://frr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarken
Swarken – Northern Frisian
frr
frr
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-frr
display: none;

values:
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky
Sky – Norwegian
no
no
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-no
display: none;

values:
https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky
Sky – Norwegian Nynorsk
nn
nn
interlanguage-link-target

values: interlanguage-link interwiki-nn badge-Q17437796 badge-featuredarticle

values:
https://nrm.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouage
Nouage – Norman
nrf
nrf
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nrm
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-oc
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-or
display: none;

values:
https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulut
Bulut – Uzbek
uz
uz
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-uz
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pa
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pnb
display: none;

values:
https://pap.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubia
Nubia – Papiamento
pap
pap
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pap
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ps
display: none;

values:
https://jam.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloud
Kloud – Jamaican Creole English
jam
jam
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-jam
display: none;

values:
https://nds.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulk
Wulk – Low German
nds
nds
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nds
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pl
display: none;

values:
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuvem
Nuvem – Portuguese
pt
pt
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pt
display: none;

values:
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nor
Nor – Romanian
ro
ro
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ro
display: none;

values:
https://qu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuyu
Phuyu – Quechua
qu
qu
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-qu
display: none;

values: Хмара – Rusyn

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-rue
display: none;

values: Облака – Russian

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ru
display: none;

values: Былыт – Sakha

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sah
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sat
display: none;

values:
https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clood
Clood – Scots
sco
sco
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sco
display: none;

values:
https://stq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulke
Wulke – Saterland Frisian
stq
stq
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-stq
display: none;

values:
https://nso.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leru
Leru – Northern Sotho
nso
nso
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-nso
display: none;

values:
https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ret%C3%AB
Retë – Albanian
sq
sq
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sq
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-scn
display: none;

values:
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud
Cloud – Simple English
en-simple
en-simple
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-simple
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sd
display: none;

values:
https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblak
Oblak – Slovak
sk
sk
interlanguage-link-target

values: interlanguage-link interwiki-sk badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle

values:
https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblak
Oblak – Slovenian
sl
sl
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sl
display: none;

values:
https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caad
Caad – Somali
so
so
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-so
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sr
display: none;

values:
https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblak
Oblak – Serbo-Croatian
sh
sh
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-sh
display: none;

values:
https://su.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9ga
Méga – Sundanese
su
su
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-su
display: none;

values:
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilvi
Pilvi – Finnish
fi
fi
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fi
display: none;

values:
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moln
Moln – Swedish
sv
sv
interlanguage-link-target

values: interlanguage-link interwiki-sv badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle

values:
https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulap
Ulap – Tagalog
tl
tl
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-tl
display: none;

values: முகில் – Tamil

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ta
display: none;

values: Болытлар – Tatar

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-tt
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-te
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-th
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-tg
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-chr
display: none;

values:
https://chy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vo%27e
Vo'e – Cheyenne
chy
chy
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-chy
display: none;

values:
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulut
Bulut – Turkish
tr
tr
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-tr
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-tyv
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-uk
display: none;

values:
https://za.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fwj
Fwj – Zhuang
za
za
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-za
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-vec
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-vep
display: none;

values:
https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A2y
Mây – Vietnamese
vi
vi
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-vi
display: none;

values:
https://fiu-vro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilv
Pilv – Võro
vro
vro
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-fiu-vro
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-wa
display: none;

values:
https://war.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dampog
Dampog – Waray
war
war
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-war
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu
display: none;

values: וואלקן – Yiddish

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-yi
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue
display: none;

values:
https://diq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewr
Hewr – Zazaki
diq
diq
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-diq
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-bat-smg
display: none;

values:
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%91
云 – Chinese
zh
zh
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-dty
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-kbp
display: none;

values:
https://lfn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nube
Nube – Lingua Franca Nova
lfn
lfn
interlanguage-link-target

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-lfn
display: none;

values: All languages (initial selection from common choices by you and others)

values: /static/images/wikimedia-button-1.5x.png 1.5x, /static/images/wikimedia-button-2x.png 2x

values: /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_132x47.png 1.5x, /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_176x62.png 2x

values:
suggestions
display: none; font-size: 13px;

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Cloud rootpage-Cloud skin-vector action-view