What are the names of the four kinds of clouds?

Answer 1

Clouds are divided into two general categories: layered and convective. These are named stratus clouds (or stratiform, the Latin stratus means "layer") and cumulus clouds (or cumuliform; cumulus means "piled up"), respectively. These two cloud types are divided into four more groups that distinguish the cloud's altitude. Clouds are classified by the cloud base height, not the cloud top. This system was proposed by Luke Howard in 1802 in a presentation to the Askesian Society. High clouds (Family A) * Cirrocumulus * Cirrus cloud * Cirrostratus Middle clouds (Family B) * Altostratus * Altocumulus Low clouds (Family C) These are found up to 2,000 m (6,500 feet) and include the stratus (dense and grey). When stratus clouds contact the ground, they are called fog. Clouds in Family C include: * Cumulus (Cu) * Cumulus humilis ** Cumulus mediocris * Stratocumulus (Sc) * Nimbostratus (Ns) * Stratus (St) Vertical clouds (Family D) These clouds can have strong up-currents, rise far above their bases and form at many heights. Clouds in Family D include: * Cumulonimbus (associated with heavy precipitation and thunderstorms) (Cb) * Cumulonimbus calvus ** Cumulonimbus incus ** Cumulonimbus with mammatus * Cumulus (Cu) * Cumulus congestus * Pyrocumulus Other clouds A few clouds can be found above the troposphere; these include noctilucent and polar stratospheric clouds (or nacreous clouds), which occur in the mesosphere and stratosphere respectively. Some clouds form as a consequence of interactions with specific geographical features. Perhaps the strangest geographically-specific cloud in the world is Morning Glory, a rolling cylindrical cloud which 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.