METEO 437 - Atmospheric Physics II

Introduction

Table 1.1. Cloud types and heights
troposphere	type		altitude of base (km)
low-level	stratocumulus	Sc	0-2
	stratus	St	0-2
	nimbostratus	Ns	0-4
mid-level	altocumulus	Ac	2-7
	altostratus	As	2-7
high-level	cirrus	Ci	7-16
	cirrostratus	Cs	7-16
	cirrocumulus	Cc	7-16
vertical	cumulus	Cu	0-3
development	cumulonimbus	Cb	0-3
stratosphere	polar stratospheric cloud		15-25
	nacreous		20-30
mesosphere	noctilucent		80-90

1. Some aspects of the meteorology and atmospheric sciences affected by clouds

a. weather (cyclone_model.fig)

b. hydrological cycle (water_cycle.fig)

c. stratospheric ozone loss – the Antarctic Ozone Hole (http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov/)

d. pollution transport (conveyor_belt.fig & cumulus_convection.fig)

e. climate (energy_budget.fig & radiative_forcing.fig

f. biosphere/atmosphere interactions (CLAW_DMS.fig)