INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DELHI

DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

ASL720: Satellite Meteorology and Remote Sensing

TERM PAPER

TOPIC: CLOUD CLASSIFICATION

Group Members:
Anil Kumar (2010ME10649)
Mayank Choudhary (2010TT10927)
Muktesh Jain (2010TT10932)
Prateek Kulhari (2010TT10942)

INTRODUCTION
There are many different types of cloud which can be identified visually in the atmosphere.
These were first classified by Lamarck in 1802, and Howard in 1803 published a classification scheme
which became the basis for modern cloud classification. The modern classification scheme used by
the UK Met Office, with similar schemes used elsewhere, classifies clouds according to the altitude of
cloud base, there being three altitude classes: low; mid-level and high. Within each altitude class
additional classifications are defined based on four basic types and combinations thereof. These types
are Cirrus (meaning hair like), Stratus (meaning layer), Cumulus (meaning pile) and Nimbus (meaning
rain producing). Each main classification may be further subdivided to provide a means of identifying
the many variations which are observed in the atmosphere. Additional to these main types there are
a few other types of cloud including noctilucent, polar stratospheric and orographic clouds. A few
examples of some of these are given below. Often several types of cloud will be present at different
levels of the atmosphere at the same time.

Low Level Cloud - Base is usually below 6500ft.

Cumulus Cloud: These clouds usually form at

altitudes between 1,000 and 5,000ft, though often

temperature rises after formation lead to an increase
in cloud base height. These clouds are generally
formed by air rising as a result of surface heating and
may occasionally produce light showers.

Stratus Cloud: Usually forms between the surface

and 2,000ft, but cloud base can be up to 4,000ft.

Thick
stratus
can
produce
considerable
precipitation, particularly in hilly or coastal regions,
though in some cases this precipitation may be
falling from higher clouds such as nimbostratus.
While thick stratus will obscure the sun or moon,
they are clearly visible through thin stratus.

Stratocumulus Cloud: This cloud often occurs at

altitudes between 1,000 and 4,000ft, though

sometimes may be higher. While not generally
producing precipitation these clouds may produce
drizzle, particularly in hilly or coastal areas, and may
be thick enough to obscure the sun or moon. These
clouds consist entirely of liquid drops and are often
formed close to the top of the planetary boundary
layer.

Mid-Level Clouds Base is usually between 6,500ft and 20,000ft with some exceptions. Mid-level
clouds typically form at temperatures between 0 and 40C depending on altitude and season, so may
consist of warm or super-cooled droplets and ice particles.

Altostratus Cloud: Cloud base ranges between 10,000

and 20,000ft. Thicker forms of these clouds often

produce continuous light precipitation and hide the
sun or moon, though thinner forms show the sun or
moon with a ground glass appearance.

Altocumulus Cloud: This type of cloud typically occurs between 6,500 and 20,000ft and is generally

broken in appearance, though can occasionally produce precipitation and be thick enough to hide the
sun or moon.

Nimbostratus Cloud: Cloud base ranges from the surface to 10,000ft. These clouds always hide the

sun or moon, and normally produce continuous precipitation which is often moderate to heavy

High Level Clouds Base is usually above 20,000ft

Cirrus Cloud: Base is typically between 20,000 and 40,000ft in the UK, and may be considerably

higher in the tropics. Cirrus clouds do not produce precipitation which reaches the ground, though
streaks of particles (known as fall streaks) are often observed below these clouds. Various halos and
other optical effects may be produced by cirrus cloud. In some cases these clouds are also thick
enough to hide the sun. Cirrus clouds typically form at temperatures below -40C and consist entirely
of ice particles.

Cirrostratus Cloud: A thin high level layer cloud, which often produce halos and through which
the outline of the sun is generally visible. These clouds are often the first visible indication of an
approaching weather front, and may progress.

DEEP CONVECTIVE CLOUDS: In contrast to both of the cloud categories previously discussed are

deep convective clouds, typified by cumulonimbus clouds. A cumulonimbus cloud can be many
kilometers thick, with a base near the Earth's surface and a top frequently reaching an altitude of 10
km (33,000 feet), and sometimes much higher. Because cumulonimbus cloud tops are high and cold,
the energy radiated to outer space is lower than it would be without the cloud (the cloud greenhouse
forcing is large). But because they also are very thick, they reflect much of the solar energy back to
space (their cloud albedo forcing is also large); hence, with the reduced shortwave radiation to be
absorbed, there is essentially no excess radiation to be trapped. As a consequence, overall, the cloud
greenhouse and albedo forcing almost balance, and the overall effect of cumulonimbus clouds is
neutral-neither warming nor cooling.

As is indicated above different types of cloud are formed in different atmospheric conditions
temperature humidity dynamics stability. From a microphysical point of view, clouds may be
liquid, mixed phase, or ice and different microphysical processes are involved in each case.

BASIS FOR DETERMINING CLOUDS

The Figure below shows different types of clouds for different ranges of Cloud Optical Depth
and Cloud Top Pressure. We can use this graph to match the values of COD and CTP that we have
obtained from Giovanni website. Basically, we are trying to analyze the difference between the clouds
that in two contrasting regions, say one of heavy rainfall and other that receives small rainfall.

OBSERVATIONS:
Average COD Value Range
COD

Jaisalmer (2003)

Jaisalmer (2013)

Mawsynram (2003)

Mawsynram (2013)

Jan

Low

Low

Mid

Low

Feb

Low

Mid

Mid

Low

Mar

Low

Mid

Mid

Low

Apr

Mid

Mid

Mid

Mid

May

Mid

Low

Mid

Mid

Jun

Low

Mid

Mid

Mid

Jul

Mid

Mid

Mid

Mid

Aug

Mid

Low

Mid

Mid

Sep

Mid

Mid

Mid

Mid

Oct

Mid

Low

Nov

Low

Low

Mid

Mid

Dec

Low

Mid

Low

Mid

Average CTP Value Range

CTP

Jaisalmer (2003)

Jaisalmer (2013)

Mawsynram (2003)

Mawsynram (2013)

Jan

Mid

High

High

High

Feb

Mid

High

High

High

Mar

Low

Low

High

High

Apr

Low

Low

Mid

High

May

Mid

Mid

Low

Low

Jun

Mid

Mid

Low

Low

Jul

Low

Low

Low

Low

Aug

Mid

Low

Low

Low

Sep

High

High

Mid

Low

Oct

Low

Low

Nov

Low

Low

High

Low

Dec

Low

High

High

Low

0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0

Cumulus

Altocumulus

Cirrus

Jaisalmer 2003

Stratocumulus Altostratus
Jaisalmer 2013

Cirrostratus

Mawsynram 2003

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Deep
Convection

Mawsynram 2013

Mawsynram 2013

Mawsynram 2003

Jaisalmer 2013

Jaisalmer 2003

0
Cumulus

0.1

Altocumulus

0.2
Cirrus

0.3

Stratocumulus

0.4
Altostratus

0.5
Cirrostratus

0.6
Stratus

0.7

0.8

Nimbostratus

0.9
Deep Convection

JAISALMER

JAISALMER 2003
Dec-13
Nov-13
Oct-13
Sep-13
Aug-13
Jul-13
Jun-13
May-13
Apr-13
Mar-13
Feb-13
Jan-13
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Relative Cloudiness
Cumulus

Altocumulus

Cirrus

Stratocumulus

Altostratus

Cirrostratus

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Deep Convection

JAISALMER 2013
Dec-13
Nov-13
Oct-13
Sep-13
Aug-13
Jul-13
Jun-13
May-13
Apr-13
Mar-13
Feb-13
Jan-13
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Relative Cloudiness
Cumulus

Altocumulus

Cirrus

Stratocumulus

Altostratus

Cirrostratus

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Deep Convection

MAWSYNRAM

MAWSYNRAM - 2003
Dec-03
Nov-03
Oct-03
Sep-03
Aug-03
Jul-03
Jun-03
May-03
Apr-03
Mar-03
Feb-03
Jan-03
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Relative Cloudiness
Cumulus

Altocumulus

Cirrus

Stratocumulus

Altostratus

Cirrostratus

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Deep Convection

MAWSYNRAM - 2013
Dec-13
Nov-13
Oct-13

Axis Title

Sep-13
Aug-13
Jul-13
Jun-13
May-13
Apr-13
Mar-13
Feb-13
Jan-13
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Relative Cloudiness
Cumulus

Altocumulus

Cirrus

Stratocumulus

Altostratus

Cirrostratus

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Deep Convection

RESULTS:

JAISALMER Region:

Clouds exist mainly during the summer monsoon season only.

In 2003, monsoon season was of a longer duration (June September) than in 2013 (late June
mid-August) due to prevalence of El-Nino conditions in 2003.

Moreover, in 2013, we mainly find Cirrostratus clouds (high clouds with medium optical depth).
Whereas, in 2003, we found a relatively larger proportion of stratus and deep convective clouds
(in monsoon season) as well, which are high optical depth clouds, which bring in more rainfall.

MAWSYNRAM Region:

Clouds exist during both the summer, as well as the winter monsoon season.

In 2013, lesser clouds appeared in the region during the months of Feb, March and Nov (the
months between the two monsoon seasons). Whereas, in 2003, due to El-Nino conditions there
was no such drop in cloudiness in the region.

It can also be seen, that the Deep Convective clouds were found in much more abundance in
the El-Nino year, which resulted in much higher rainfall in 2003, compared to 2013, where the
rainfall was predominantly due to the Cirrostratus clouds.

We can clearly see that, in India, whether it is the desert region or the high rainfall receiving region,
we primarily find medium optical depth clouds.

Cirrostratus clouds are the most common in both regions; these are high clouds that are brought
into the regions due to the monsoon winds.

We also observe that we find much lesser amounts of low clouds in the desert region of Jaisalmer,
since low clouds are basically formed due to evaporation in that particular region, which is almost
negligible in the desert region. Although, in the monsoon season, we do find Stratocumulus clouds
which are formed due the evaporation of water received from rainfall itself.

The Mawsynram region also has a very good winter monsoon season, where the clouds are
brought-in from China and associated regions.

Since, Mawsynram is located close to Bay of Bengal and Brahmaputra, sufficient evaporation from
these water bodies also facilitates rainfall throughout the year in the region.

REFERENCES:
[1] http://www.cas.manchester.ac.uk/resactivities/cloudphysics/background/classification/
[2] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cloud_types
[3] www.clouds-online.com/
[4] ASL720 Module