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Clouds in high layers are known as…

  • A

    Nimbo-.

  • B

    Strato-.

  • C

    Alto-.

  • D

    Cirro-.

Refer to figure.
For cloud classification, the troposphere is segmented into three levels: low, medium, and high. These levels correspond to three primary classifications based on cloud base. Medium-level clouds are prefixed with "alto," high-level clouds with "cirro," and low-level clouds have no prefix.

LOW LEVEL CLOUDS BASES 0 ft – 6500 ft
Water droplets
Stratus (St)
Stratocumulus (Sc)
Cumulus (Cu)
Cumulonimbus (Cb)
Nimbostratus (Ns) – may also be classified as medium level.

Cumulus and cumulonimbus will, however, have significant vertical development and will extend from LOW to HIGH levels.
CB could extend into lower stratosphere.
MEDIUM LEVEL CLOUDS BASES 6500 ft – 23 000 ft Altostratus (As)
Altocumulus (Ac)
Nimbostratus (Ns)

Characterised by prefix “Alto”.
HIGH CLOUDS BASES 16 500 ft – 45 000 ft
Ice crystals
Cirrostratus (Cs)
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
Cirrus (Ci)

Characterised by prefix “Cirro”.

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