LUKE HOWARD (1772-1864)

1802 – England

‘All types of clouds can be categorised into three basic families’

• High clouds (their bases above 6km) – CIRRUS (hair-like)

• a. Cirrus
• b. Cirrocumulus
• c. Cirrostratus

 

• Middle clouds (between 2 and 6km) – CUMULUS (puffs)

Nimbostratus

• a. Altocumulus
• b. Altostratus
• c. Nimbostratus

 

• Low clouds (below 2km) – STRATUS (layers)

• a. Stratocumulus
• b. Stratus
• c. Cumulus.

 

Intermediate and compound types are cumulocirrostratus or nimbus (the rain cloud).

Clouds that stretch through the three altitude bands are cumulonimbus.

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