Genus types with sufficient vertical extent to occupy more than one level do not carry any altitude related prefixes. In both cases, strato- is dropped from the latter form to avoid double-prefixing. However mid-level stratiform and stratocumuliform types are given the prefix alto- while high-level variants of these same two forms carry the prefix cirro. Low-level clouds do not have any altitude-related prefixes.
The main representative cloud types for each of these forms are stratiform, cumuliform, stratocumuliform, cumulonimbiform, and cirriform. It became the basis of a modern international system that divides clouds into five physical forms which can be further divided or classified into altitude levels to derive ten basic genera.
Genus types in the troposphere, the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface, have Latin names because of the universal adoption of Luke Howard's nomenclature that was formally proposed in 1802. There are two methods of naming clouds in their respective layers of the homosphere, Latin and common name. Nephology is the science of clouds, which is undertaken in the cloud physics branch of meteorology.
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.Ĭlouds are seen in the Earth's homosphere, which includes the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere. Water or various other chemicals may compose the droplets and crystals. In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space.
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