Editing Cumulus cloud (section)

== Relation to other clouds ==
Cumulus clouds are a genus of free-convective low-level cloud along with the related limited-convective cloud stratocumulus. These clouds form from ground level to {{convert|2000|m|ft}} at all latitudes. Stratus clouds are also low-level. In the middle level are the alto- clouds, which consist of the limited-convective stratocumuliform cloud altocumulus and the stratiform cloud altostratus. Mid-level clouds form from {{convert|2000|m|ft}} to {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in polar areas, {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in temperate areas, and {{convert|7600|m|ft}} in tropical areas. The high-level cloud, cirrocumulus, is a stratocumuliform cloud of limited convection. The other clouds in this level are cirrus and cirrostratus. High clouds form {{convert|3000|to|7600|m|ft}} in high latitudes, {{convert|5000|to|12000|m|ft}} in temperate latitudes, and {{convert|6100|to|18000|m|ft}} in low, tropical latitudes.<ref name="nws-jetstream" /> Cumulonimbus clouds, like cumulus congestus, extend vertically rather than remaining confined to one level.<ref name="cumulonimbus-incus">{{cite web|url=http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2009/08/cumulonimbus-incus.html|title=Cumulonimbus Incus|date=5 August 2009|publisher=Universities Space Research Association|access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

=== Cirrocumulus clouds ===
[[File:Cirrocumulus in Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|alt=A large field of cirrocumulus clouds in a blue sky, beginning to merge near the upper left.|A large field of cirrocumulus clouds]]
{{main article|Cirrocumulus cloud}}

Cirrocumulus clouds form in patches<ref name="YDN-364">{{harvnb|Miyazaki|Yoshida|Dobashi|Nishita|2001|p=364}}</ref> and cannot cast shadows. They commonly appear in regular, rippling patterns<ref name="H&H-340">{{harvnb|Hubbard|2000|p=340}}</ref> or in rows of clouds with clear areas between.<ref name="cloud-classification">{{cite web|last=Funk|first=Ted|title=Cloud Classifications and Characteristics|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/cloudchart.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040720234037/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/cloudchart.pdf|archive-date=July 20, 2004|access-date=19 October 2012|work=The Science Corner|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|page=1}}</ref> Cirrocumulus are, like other members of the cumuliform and stratocumuliform categories, formed via [[convection|convective]] processes.<ref name="parungo-251">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=251}}</ref> Significant growth of these patches indicates high-altitude instability and can signal the approach of poorer weather.<ref name="common-clouds"/><ref name="audubon-448"/> The ice crystals in the bottoms of cirrocumulus clouds tend to be in the form of hexagonal cylinders. They are not solid, but instead tend to have stepped funnels coming in from the ends. Towards the top of the cloud, these crystals have a tendency to clump together.<ref name="parungo-252">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=252}}</ref> These clouds do not last long, and they tend to change into cirrus because as the water vapor continues to deposit on the ice crystals, they eventually begin to fall, destroying the upward convection. The cloud then dissipates into cirrus.<ref name="parungo-254">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=254}}</ref> Cirrocumulus clouds come in four species which are common to all three genus-types that have limited-convective or stratocumuliform characteristics: ''stratiformis'', ''lenticularis'', ''castellanus'', and ''floccus''.<ref name="common-clouds">{{cite web|title=Common Cloud Names, Shapes, and Altitudes|publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology|url=http://nenes.eas.gatech.edu/Cloud/Clouds.pdf|access-date=12 February 2011|pages=2, 10&ndash;13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512162814/http://nenes.eas.gatech.edu/Cloud/Clouds.pdf|archive-date=12 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are [[iridescence|iridescent]] when the constituent supercooled water droplets are all about the same size.<ref name="audubon-448">{{harvnb|Ludlum|2000|p=448}}</ref>

=== Altocumulus clouds ===
[[File:Altocumulus stratiformis clouds-01.jpg|thumb|Altocumulus clouds]]
{{main article|Altocumulus cloud}}
Altocumulus clouds are a mid-level cloud that forms from {{convert|2000|m|ft}} high to {{convert|4000|m|ft}} in polar areas, {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in temperate areas, and {{convert|7600|m|ft}} in tropical areas.<ref name="nws-jetstream">{{cite web|title=Cloud Classifications|url=http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/synoptic/clouds_max.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107063301/http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/synoptic/clouds_max.htm|archive-date=7 November 2014|access-date=21 July 2014|work=JetStream|publisher=National Weather Service}}</ref> They can have precipitation and are commonly composed of a mixture of ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, and water droplets in temperate latitudes. However, the liquid water concentration was almost always significantly greater than the concentration of ice crystals, and the maximum concentration of liquid water tended to be at the top of the cloud while the ice concentrated itself at the bottom.<ref name="Carey2490">{{harvnb|Carey et al.|2008|p=2490}}</ref><ref name="Carey2491">{{harvnb|Carey et al.|2008|p=2491}}</ref> The ice crystals in the base of the altocumulus clouds and in the virga were found to be dendrites or conglomerations of dendrites while needles and plates resided more towards the top.<ref name="Carey2491" /> Altocumulus clouds can form via convection or via the forced uplift caused by a [[warm front]].<ref name="Carey2494">{{harvnb|Carey et al.|2008|p=2494}}</ref>

=== Stratocumulus clouds ===
[[File:Flat Stratocumulus Cloud.jpg|thumb|Stratocumulus clouds]]
{{main article|Stratocumulus cloud}}
A stratocumulus cloud is another type of stratocumuliform cloud. Like cumulus clouds, they form at low levels<ref name="cloud-classification" /> and via convection. However, unlike cumulus clouds, their growth is almost completely retarded by a strong [[Inversion (meteorology)|inversion]]. As a result, they flatten out like stratus clouds, giving them a layered appearance. These clouds are extremely common, covering on average around twenty-three percent of the Earth's oceans and twelve percent of the Earth's continents. They are less common in tropical areas and commonly form after [[cold front]]s. Additionally, stratocumulus clouds reflect a large amount of the incoming sunlight, producing a net cooling effect.<ref name="Wood2374">{{harvnb|Wood|2012|p=2374}}</ref> Stratocumulus clouds can produce [[drizzle]], which stabilizes the cloud by warming it and reducing turbulent mixing.<ref name="Wood2398">{{harvnb|Wood|2012|p=2398}}</ref>

=== Cumulonimbus clouds ===
{{main article|Cumulonimbus cloud}}
Cumulonimbus clouds are the final form of growing cumulus clouds. They form when ''cumulus congestus'' clouds develop a strong [[updraft]] that propels their tops higher and higher into the atmosphere until they reach the [[tropopause]] at {{convert|18000|m|ft}} in altitude. Cumulonimbus clouds, commonly called thunderheads, can produce high winds, torrential rain, lightning, gust fronts, [[waterspout]]s, [[funnel cloud]]s, and tornadoes. They commonly have [[anvil cloud]]s.<ref name="TWC" /><ref name="cumulonimbus-incus" /><ref name="Ludlum471">{{harvnb|Ludlum|2000|p=471}}</ref>

=== Horseshoe clouds ===
{{main article|Horseshoe cloud}}
A short-lived [[horseshoe cloud]] may occur when a [[horseshoe vortex]] deforms a cumulus cloud.<ref name="IIE">{{cite web |title=An incredibly rare 'horseshoe cloud' was spotted in Nevada and it kept the meme-makers busy |url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/an-incredibly-rare-horseshoe-cloud-was-spotted-in-nevada-and-it-kept-the-mememakers-busy-36691086.html |website=Independent.ie |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=12 March 2018 }}</ref>