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Image Gallery

Altocumulus clouds

Altocumulus clouds

Altostratus clouds

Altostratus clouds

Cirrocumulus clouds over a forest

Cirrocumulus clouds

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrus clouds over a winter landscape

Cirrus Clouds

Diagram of cloud types. High in the atmosphere are cirrocumulus and cirrus. In the middle of the atmosphere are altocumulus and altostratus. In the lower atmosphere are stratocumulus, stratus and cumulus. Cumulonimbus clouds can be found from near the ground up to above 50,000 feet.

Cloud Types Diagram

Diagram of how mountains create clouds

Clouds Form Due to Mountains

Clouds Form Due to Weather Fronts

Diagram of how air that is forced to rise creates clouds

Clouds Form When Air is Forced to Rise

Contrails

Contrails

Three Types of Contrails

Contrails: Three Types

Cumulonimbus cloud

Cumulonimbus clouds

Cumulus clouds

Cumulus clouds

Diagram of how clouds form

How Clouds Form

Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud

Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds

Lenticular clouds

Lenticular Clouds

Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus Clouds

Marine Stratocumulus Clouds

Marine Stratocumulus Clouds

Nimbostratus clouds and a rainbow over a city

Nimbostratus clouds

A cloud floating in the middle of a museum room

Nimbus Munnekeholm by Berndnaut Smilde

Noctilucent clouds glowing on the horizon just after sunset

Noctilucent Clouds

Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails

Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails

Persistent Spreading Contrails

Persistent Spreading Contrails

Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Short Lived Contrails

Short Lived Contrails

Stratocumulus clouds at sunset

Stratocumulus clouds

Stratus clouds

Stratus clouds

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.