It is essential to understand and specify the level at which different parts of the clouds, for which it is necessary to clarify two key concepts: height y altitude.
La height of a point in space, such as the base of a cloud, is defined as the vertical distance between the level of the observation site and the level of that point. It is important to note that the observation point could be located on a hill or mountain. In contrast, the altitude of a point refers to the vertical distance between mean sea level and that point. Therefore, surface observers, like those on the ground, often use the concept of height. Observers in aircraft, however, generally refer to the altitude.
Furthermore, the vertical dimension The width of a cloud is the distance between its base and its top. This concept is crucial to understanding how clouds are distributed in the atmosphere. and how they are formed.
Clouds are mostly found at altitudes ranging from sea level to mountain level. tropopauseThis level varies both spatially and temporally; therefore, cloud tops are typically higher in the tropics compared to mid- and high latitudes. Recall that the tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
By convention, the part of the atmosphere where clouds commonly occur is divided into three levels, also known as floors: high, medium, and low. Each of these levels is defined by the altitude ranges at which clouds of certain types are most frequently observed. It is important to note that the boundaries of these levels can overlap and vary depending on altitude.
In the polar regions, for example, the high level is found approximately between 3 and 8 km in altitude, while in equatorial regions, this level is located between 6 and 18 km. It is essential to recognize that, in the case of clouds, the variability in height has a direct impact on the climate and weather patterns in different regions. According to the World Meteorological Organization, clouds are classified into ten main genera, which are distributed according to their height. Also, the variability in cloud height also plays an important role in this context.
Cloud Classification
The clouds gather in four great families depending on their vertical distribution within the troposphere:
- low clouds: These include cumulus (Cu), stratus (St), stratocumulus (Sc) and cumulonimbus (Cb), and are generally formed up to 2000 meters above sea level.
- medium clouds: Understand altocumulus (Ac), altostratus (As) and nimbostratus (Ns), which develop between 2000 and 6000 meters.
- high clouds: This group includes cirrus clouds (Ci), cirrostratus clouds (Cs) and cirrocumulus clouds (Cc), located between 6000 and 12000 meters.
- Vertical development clouds: Highlights the cumulonimbus, which can reach significant heights, with low-level bases and peaks exceeding 12 km. For more information on this type of cloud, you can visit our page on cumulonimbus clouds.
For observers on the surface, identify the height Cloud formation can be difficult to observe. However, from mountaintops above 4000 meters or from an airplane at cruising altitude, you can clearly see how they are distributed vertically, occupying these three distinct levels. This phenomenon can be spectacularly observed in images such as a photo of a storm from an airplane.
Cloudy Floors and their Altitude
As mentioned above, floors were defined as regions of the troposphere where clouds of certain genera occur. This concept is fundamental to understanding meteorology and how clouds influence it:
- Ground floor: This level is commonly located from the Earth's surface to an altitude of 2000 meters, where cumulus, stratus, and stratocumulus clouds predominate.
- Middle floor: It is found between 2000 and 6000 meters. This is where altocumulus, altostratus, and occasionally nimbostratus clouds are found.
- Upper floor: This floor rises from 6000 to 12000 meters, where cirrus clouds and the upper parts of cumulonimbus clouds predominate.
The phenomenon of cloudiness translates into changes in the height and type of clouds present in the atmosphere. For example, cumulonimbusKnown for its significant vertical development, it can have a base starting at 2000 meters and a top that can reach over 14 km under ideal conditions. These characteristics are especially pronounced in tropical areas, where the troposphere allows for greater vertical cloud growth.
The concept of cloud ceiling refers to the height above the Earth's surface of the cloud base and is relevant to aviation and weather forecasting. Cloud thickness or depth, on the other hand, is the distance between its base and its top and is directly related to the amount of precipitation it can generate. For example, thicker clouds, such as cumulonimbus clouds, are associated with heavy rain, while thinner clouds, such as cirrus clouds, generally do not produce precipitation. In this sense, the cloud ceiling is a crucial concept to consider.
The altitude of clouds varies significantly with latitude. At high altitudes, such as the poles, the troposphere It is thinner, limiting the height of clouds, while in equatorial zones, where the troposphere is deeper, clouds can reach much higher altitudes. This phenomenon is also related to various Meteorological phenomena and its unique characteristics.
