A new section has been added to the picture gallery titled

CLOUDS

This has been added,so people can recognise what they are seeing in the skies above them.
There are many different types of cloud,so it would be nice to fill the gallery with your own pictures of these clouds.

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"). 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)
These generally form above 16,500 feet (5,000 m), in the cold region of the troposphere. In Polar regions, they may form as low as 10,000 ft (3,048 m); they are denoted by the prefix cirro- or cirrus. At this altitude, water frequently freezes so clouds are composed of ice crystals. The clouds tend to be wispy and are often transparent.
Clouds in Family A include:

• Cirrus (CI)
• Cirrus uncinus
• Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz Colombia
• Cirrostratus (Cs)
• Cirrocumulus (Cc)
• Pileus
• Contrail, a long thin cloud which develops as the result of the passage of an aircraft at high altitudes.

Middle clouds (Family B)
These develop between 6,500 and 16,500 feet (between 2,000 and 5,000 m) and are denoted by the prefix alto-. They are made of water droplets and are frequently supercooled.
Clouds in Family B include:

• Altostratus (As)
• Altostratus undulatus
• Altocumulus (Ac)
• Altocumulus undulatus
• Altocumulus mackerel sky
• Altocumulus castellanus
• Altocumulus lenticularis

Low clouds (Family C)

These are found up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m) and include the stratus (dense and grey). When stratus clouds contact the ground, they are called fog.
Clouds in Family C include:

• Stratus (St)
• Nimbostratus (Ns)
• Cumulus humilis (Cu)
• Cumulus mediocris (Cu)
• Stratocumulus (Sc)

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 incus
• Cumulonimbus calvus
• Cumulonimbus with mammatus
• Cumulus congestus
• Pyrocumulus

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Stuart

210m ASL

This looks very good TG. A most useful cloud spotter addition.

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This is what the mojority of instant forecasting is about. We should make a team and go storm chasing around the UK.