Particles of water or ice are Clouds
Clouds are collections of water droplets or ice particles that are visible in the atmosphere. Warm air is full of moisture and it is lifted into the air and when it reaches a certain height it cool. In fact, at that altitude, low temperature and hot air can no longer retain moisture in the form of water vapor. The steam turns into tiny water droplets or ice chips, creating a cloud. They constantly change their shape and are completely different. This is because they are formed at different altitudes and temperatures and are composed of different particles which are also dependent on the amount and temperature.
Types of clouds:
- Cirrus (Ci) - ragged appearance with white silky gloss, fiber, icy or fluffy look. Thread are sometimes flat, irregular and curved or intricately intertwined. At the end of the day or just after sunset they change color to orange, yellow, pink and then become gray. Never give precipitation.
- Cirrocumulus (Cc) - small ice clouds are similar to "sheep". In fact, composed of small, white spots, like the sky is covered with lace. They are arranged in a more or less regular stripes or groups. The width of the individual elements of the cloud does not exceed 1 degree. Through the holes one can see blue sky, causing the cloud may appear as a network or honeycomb. Not giving precipitation.
- Cirrostratus (Cs) - airy and icy, like a milky-white or disaggregated cloudy shroud. The sky is covered in part or whole. Because they are thin on them appears halo (circle - around the Sun or the Moon). This is a set of optical phenomena in the form of rings, onions, cross or luminous points (false Sun).
- Altocumulus (Ac) - white and gray that mix water and ice. The middle parts are thicker and thicker and darker look. Quite shaded, stocky "sheep", round or cylindrical. More or less regular schedule. Some are wide from 1 to 5 degrees, significantly wider than cirrocumulus. Precipitation does not fall.
- Altostratus (As) - mixed of water and ice partially or completely cover the sky as a humdrum, or slightly corded or even layer. So thick that usually completely cover the Sun and not cause a halo phenomenon. Very reliably announces clouds coming from the west. Slowly decreases and brings rainfall.
- Nimbostratus (Ns) - snow white clouds of water ice and completely cover the Sun as a monochrome, gray or dark gray, fully compacted layer. Below it is usually little clouds get ragged. Typical cloud from which precipitation falls quiet and uniform rain drizzles or permanent snow.
- Stratocumulus (Sc) - from gray to white, cloddy-layered clouds, composed of water droplets which the base is still dark. Ball and conical masses can be cylindrical or rounded. Some parts may be wider than 5 degrees. We include them in the water clouds.
- Stratus (St) - water clouds covering the entire sky, as a uniform gray layer with nearly uniform lower limit. When are flat clouds and Sun shines through them, clearly see their outline and there is no halo phenomena. Stratus, which is located on the ground are called fog.
- Cumulus (Cu) - composed of water droplets, lumpy and sometimes torn. Most occur in a sharp and lumpy shapes but they seem to swell. Most often grow very high. They can be compared to a giant cauliflower. Parts of the clouds that the Sun shines are brightly white. The base is horizontal and very dark. It is located in the shade. It belongs to the most beautiful clouds.
- Cumulonimbus (Cb) - heavy and dense water clouds, which extend in height. We call them storm clouds when they freeze the upper part. The upper part of that giant ice clump clouds usually flattened and resembling the plume. It can be stripped or fibrous. Cumulonimbus in the upper part is similar to anvil.
Clouds can be classified into three height floors:
- High (C, Cc, Cs) - completely ice elements, with temperatures lower than -35 ° C and are not sharply limited.
- Medium (Ac, As) - mixed elements of ice and water at temperatures between -10 ° C and - 35 ° C.
- Low (Ns, Sc, St, Cu, Pb) - water elements with temperatures of -10 ° C to more than 0 ° C and sharply limited.
These fall even in:
- Stratiform, which have a horizontal measure much larger than vertical
- Cumuliform, that have more vertical than horizontal measurements
- Orographic, which occur under the influence of relievo (wave clouds)
A distinction in clouds is also phenomena such as:
- Nacreous clouds - have a rainbow of colors and can be found at altitudes of 22 to 30km
- Night clouds - shining at night, the height of 80 to 90km
- Virgil (stripes) - occur in summer, when rain fails to reach the ground, but immediately evaporates due to the unsaturation of the atmosphere with water vapor
- Halo - occurs when cirrus who often like shroud cover the sky and on them appear rare and striking celestial phenomenon, the ring around the Sun or Moon. It occurs due to refraction and reflection of light on ice crystals in high layered clouds. The ring is usually pale or badly stained. In the old days people considered him a poor celestial sign, which announces the plague, fires and war.