Environments By Cloud Type

Types of climates

Climates around the world can be divided into several types, based on the Koppen Climate Classification system, which is widely used by climatologists. Here are the main types:

1. Tropical Rainforest (Af): It is characterized by high average temperatures (above 18°C or 64°F) throughout the year and significant precipitation in all months.

2. Tropical Monsoon (Am): This climate has a very high total annual rainfall but also a very pronounced dry season.

3. Tropical Savanna (Aw/As): It has a distinct wet and dry season with the highest monthly average temperature being above 18°C or 64°F in all months.

4. Desert (BWh/BWk): This climate is characterized by very low precipitation levels. "h" stands for hot deserts, while "k" stands for cold deserts.

5. Steppe (BSh/BSk): These are semi-arid climates which are typically found next to desert climates. They receive slightly more rain than deserts. "h" stands for hot steppe, and "k" stands for cold steppe.

6. Mediterranean (Csa/Csb): It features warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. "a" stands for hot summer Mediterranean climate, while "b" stands for warm summer Mediterranean climate.

7. Humid subtropical (Cfa/Cwa): This climate features hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. "a" stands for humid subtropical climate with hot summers, while "w" represents a version with dry winters.

8. Marine West Coast (Cfb/Cfc): It is characterized by mild summers and cool but not cold winters. It usually has a high amount of rainfall. "b" stands for warm temperature, while "c" stands for cool temperature.

9. Humid Continental (Dfa/Dfb/Dwa/Dwb/Dsa/Dsb): It has a large annual temperature range with warm to hot summers and cold winters. The subtypes "a" and "b" differ by summer temperatures, "w" represents dry winters, and "s" stands for dry summers.

10. Subarctic (Dfc/Dfd/Dwc/Dwd): It is characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. "c" stands for cool short summers, "d" for very cold winters.

11. Tundra (ET): This climate is characterized by long, very cold winters and short, cool summers.

12. Ice Cap (EF): This climate type has permanent ice and snow; mean monthly temperatures never exceed 0°C.

Each of these types can further be subdivided based on seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation.

Types of clouds

Clouds are categorized based on their shape, height, and appearance. The World Meteorological Organization officially recognizes around ten basic types, which are categorized into three main groups depending on their altitude: high clouds, middle clouds, and low clouds.

High clouds (5,000 - 13,000 meters):

1. Cirrus (Ci): They are thin, wispy clouds that often appear as white or light gray patches in the sky. They are typically composed of ice crystals due to the high altitude.

2. Cirrocumulus (Cc): They are small, rounded puffs that usually appear in long rows high in the sky. They are white and usually signal fair but cold weather.

3. Cirrostratus (Cs): They are thin, sheetlike high clouds that often cover the entire sky. They can cause a halo to form around the sun or moon.

Middle clouds (2,000 - 7,000 meters):

4. Altocumulus (Ac): They typically form as white or gray layers or patches with wavy, rounded masses or rolls. They might signal thunderstorms on warm and humid summer mornings.

5. Altostratus (As): They often cover the whole sky and are blue-gray or gray. Usually, they form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow.

Low clouds (0 - 2,000 meters):

6. Stratocumulus (Sc): They appear as large, dark, rounded masses often in groups, lines, or waves. They can signal that a front is about to pass and is usually followed by clear weather.

7. Stratus (St): They often cover the entire sky as a uniform gray layer, often bringing light mist or drizzle.

8. Nimbostratus (Ns): They are thick, dark, and gray low-level clouds that often cover the sky and bring steady rain or snow.

Clouds with vertical development (can extend through all three levels):

9. Cumulus (Cu): They are white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton. They are often associated with good weather, but they can grow into larger cloud types that can cause adverse weather.

10. Cumulonimbus (Cb): These are thunderstorm clouds, high in the sky and often shaped like an anvil. They can cause heavy rain, snow, lightning, tornadoes, and even hail.

It's worth noting that there are several subtypes and intermediate types of clouds beyond this list. Also, contrails are the clouds formed by the exhaust of aircraft engines, and mammatus are sagging pouch-like structures that are typically seen hanging out of cumulonimbus clouds.

Types of environments around the world and the kinds of clouds that they tend to produce

There are several types of environments or ecosystems around the world, and each has certain weather patterns and cloud types that are typically associated with them. Here's an overview:

1. Tropical Rainforest: This environment is known for its high rainfall and stable temperatures throughout the year. The most common types of clouds in this environment are cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds due to the high levels of evaporation and convection. These clouds often lead to frequent rainfall, including thunderstorms.

2. Desert: Deserts are typically dry and hot during the day, and cold at night. Cloud formation is relatively rare in desert climates due to the low humidity and lack of precipitation. When clouds do form, they are often high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Cumulus clouds may also form but rarely result in rain reaching the ground due to high evaporation rates in the lower atmosphere.

3. Tundra: In this cold environment, where the ground is permanently frozen (permafrost), cloud formation is relatively common due to the cold air and frequently strong winds. Stratus and stratocumulus clouds are typical, often bringing snow rather than rain.

4. Temperate Forests and Grasslands: These regions have a mix of all types of weather, so all cloud types can be found here. However, cumulus and stratus clouds are common during fair and overcast weather, respectively, and cumulonimbus clouds can form during storms.

5. Mediterranean: This climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. During the summer, the sky is often clear. In the winter, Mediterranean climates experience frontal systems that bring a variety of clouds, including altostratus, nimbostratus, and cumulonimbus, often resulting in significant rainfall.

6. Alpine (Mountainous regions): The types of clouds that form around mountains can be quite variable and depend heavily on the wind and the geographical configuration. Orographic lifting can cause the formation of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds, which can result in precipitation. Lenticular clouds, which are lens-shaped clouds, often form at high altitudes in mountainous areas due to the unique airflow caused by the terrain.

7. Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctic): In these extreme cold environments, clouds are less common due to the generally low levels of water vapor in the cold air. However, when clouds do form, they are often stratus, stratocumulus, or nimbostratus clouds. In very cold conditions, polar stratospheric clouds or nacreous clouds may form, which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Remember that this is a general guide, and actual cloud formation can depend on a variety of factors, including specific geographical features, current weather patterns, and more.