What are the fundamental types by which clouds are distinguished?
Refer to figure.
There are three primary cloud shapes, with the two most relevant for pilots being stratiform and cumuliform clouds.
- Stratiform clouds are generally flat or stratified, covering large horizontal areas but with minimal vertical extent.
- Cumuliform clouds are tall and have limited horizontal spread, often appearing heaped like cauliflower.
- Cirriform clouds have a fibrous, wispy, or hail-like appearance and are exclusively found at high levels in the troposphere.
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