Aviation meteorology

To : Capt. Preeti

By: HARSH PATIL

 What are clouds?

Clouds, to almost everyone, have

some meaning. But to us as a pilot,
clouds are our weather "signposts
in the sky." They give us an
indication of air motion, stability, and
moisture. Clouds helps us to
visualize weather conditions and
potential weather hazards we might
encounter in flight.
 Clouds formation
As a warm air rises, it cools. Cooler air can
support less water vapor and so, as the air
cools, the relative humidity of the air
increases. The temperature at which the air
humidity reaches 100% is known as
the Dew Point. At this point the air is said to
be saturated. As the temperature continues
to fall, the excess water vapor that the now
saturated air contains condenses to form
water droplets or ice particles. Clouds
therefore form when the relative humidity of
a parcel of air reaches 100%.
 Cloud Formation Lifting Methods
 Convergence Lifting:
Convergence lifting occurs when two air masses converge on one
another.

 Orographic Lifting:
Orographic lifting occurs when air is forced up the side of a
mountain until it cools and condenses.

 Frontal Lifting:
 Frontal lifting is caused by the movement of dissimilar air
masses.
 Cold Front: cold air encounters warmer air, pushing the warm
air up, causing lifting.
 Warm Front: warm air encounters cooler air where it will rise
above it, causing lifting.

 Thermal Lifting:
Thermal, also called convective lifting, occurs when the ground is
 LOW LEVEL CLOUDS
 In the low cloud family are the stratus,
stratocumulus, and fair weather
cumulus clouds. Low clouds are almost
entirely water, but at times the water
may be supercooled. Low clouds at
subfreezing temperatures can also
contain snow and ice particles. The
bases of these clouds range from near
the surface to about 6,500 feet in
middle latitudes.
 Types of low clouds

Stratus clouds-
grey, cover entire
sky, resemble
fog, no
precipitation, but
 Types of low clouds
2) stratocumulus: Stratocumulus bases are globular masses or rolls unlike the flat,
sometimes indefinite, bases of stratus. They usually form at the top of a layer mixed by
moderate surface winds. Sometimes, they form from the breaking up of stratus or the
spreading out of cumulus. Some turbulence, and possible icing at subfreezing
temperatures. Ceiling and visibility usually better than with low stratus.
 TYPES OF LOW CLOUDS
3) cumulus: Fair weather cumulus clouds form in convective currents and are
characterized by relatively flat bases and dome-shaped tops. Fair weather cumulus do not
show extensive vertical development and do not produce precipitation. More often, fair
weather cumulus indicates a shallow layer of instability. Some turbulence and no
significant icing.
 Middle clouds
 In the middle cloud family are the altostratus, altocumulus, and nimbostratus
clouds. These clouds are primarily water, much of which may be supercooled. The
height of the bases of these clouds ranges from about 6,500 to 23,000 feet in
middle latitudes.
 Types of middle clouds

1) altostratus: Altostratus is a bluish grey or grey mid level clouds. It is often associated
with altocumulus and sometimes gradually merges into cirrostratus. The sun may be dimly
visible through it. Little or no turbulence with moderate amounts of ice.
 TYPES OF MIDDLE CLOUDS
2) Altocumulus: Altocumulus are composed of white or gray colored layers or patches of
solid cloud. The cloud elements may have a waved or roll-like appearance. Some
turbulence and small amounts of icing.
 TYPES OF MIDDLE CLOUDS
3) nimbostratus : Nimbostratus is a gray or dark massive cloud layer, diffused by more or
less continuous rain, snow, or ice pellets. This type is classified as a middle cloud
although it may merge into very low stratus or stratocumulus. Very little turbulence, but
can pose a serious icing problem if temperatures are near or below freezing.
 High clouds

 The high cloud family is cirriform

and includes cirrus,
cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus.
They are composed almost
entirely of ice crystals. The height
of the bases of these clouds
ranges from about 16,500 to
45,000 feet in middle latitudes.
 Types of high clouds
1)cirrus: Cirrus are thin, feather-like ice crystal clouds in patches or narrow
bands. Larger ice crystals often trail downward in well-defined wisps called
"mares' tails." Wispy, cirrus-like, these contain no significant icing or turbulence.
 TYPES OF HIGH CLOUDS
2) cirrocumulus: Cirrocumulus are thin clouds, the individual elements appearing as
small white flakes or patches of cotton. May contain highly supercooled water droplets.
Some turbulence and icing.
 TYPES OF HIGH CLOUDS
3) cirrostratus: Cirrostratus is a thin whitish cloud layer appearing like a sheet or veil. Cloud
elements are diffuse, sometimes partially striated or fibrous. Due to their ice crystal makeup,
these clouds are associated with halos- large luminous circles surrounding the sun or moon. No
turbulence and little if any icing. The greatest problem flying in cirriform clouds is restriction to
visibility. They can make the strict use of instruments mandatory.
 CLOUDS WITH EXTENSIVE VERTICAL
DEVELOPMENT

 The vertically developed family of clouds

includes towering cumulus and
cumulonimbus. These clouds usually contain
supercooled water above the freezing level.
But when a cumulus grows to great heights,
water in the upper part of the cloud freezes into
ice crystals forming a cumulonimbus. The
heights of cumuliform cloud bases rangeS
from 1,000 feet or less to above 10,000 feet.
 TOWERING CUMULUS

 Towering cumulus signifies a relatively

deep layer of unstable air. It shows
considerable vertical development
and has billowing cauliflower tops.
Showers can result from these clouds.
Very strong turbulence; some clear
icing above the freezing level.
 AVIATION HAZARDOUS CLOUDS

 CUMULONIMBUS

 MAMMATUS

 SHELF CLOUDS

 WALL CLOUDS

 ROLL CLOUDS

 KELVIN-HELMHOLTZ WAVE CLOUDS

 LENTICULAR CLOUDS

 ASPERITAS

 TORNADOES
 CUMULONIMBUS

 CUMULONIMUS IS THE THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. Cumulonimbus are the ultimate

manifestation of instability. They are vertically developed clouds of large dimensions
with dense boiling tops often crowned with thick veils of dense cirrus (the anvil). Nearly
the entire spectrum of flying hazards are contained in these clouds including violent
tUrbulence. They should be avoided at all times !
 MAMMATUS
Mammatus clouds are rarely seen, but nothing can compare to a good display of these
pouch-like clouds at sunset. They are typically caused by areas of sinking air
underneath a cloud. THEY ARE MOSTLY associated with severe thunderstorms, it
also can occur with cirrus, altocumulus, and other cloud types.
 SHELF CLOUDS
 Shelf clouds are some of the most menacing, yet largely harmless, accessory clouds
out there. They tend to form at the front edge of a severe thunderstorm, as cooler,
moist air from the storm is pushed ahead of it, colliding with a warmer, humid air mass
out ahead of it, and forcing condensation to take place along an upwardly slanted
slope.
 WALL CLOUDS
Wall clouds form in supercell thunderstorms, and many give rise to tornadoes. wall clouds are A
local, often abrupt lowering from a cumulonimbus cloud base into a low-hanging accessory cloud,
normally a kilometer or more in diameter. Wall clouds that exhibit significant rotation and vertical
motions often precede tornado formation by a few minutes to an hour.
 ROLL CLOUDS
Roll clouds are relatively rare . Think of roll clouds as horizontal, tube shaped clouds that
resemble small waves washing up on a sandy beach. Such clouds, known by their
technical name of arcus, are typically associated with a thunderstorm or a gust front,
as cool air pushes out ahead of a shower or thunderstorm.
 KELVIN-HELMHOLTZ WAVE
CLOUDS
Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds are a rare cloud formation that resembles ocean waves in
the sky. The distinctive Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud occurs when there is a strong vertical
shear between two air streams causing winds to blow faster at the upper level than at the
lower levels. They were named after two meteorologists who studied air flow: Hermann
von Helmholtz and William Thomson Kelvin.
 LENTICULAR CLOUDS

Lenticular clouds typically form in the vicinity of mountains, as air is forced to move up
and over the peaks, cooling and condensing as it does so. The clouds can take on a
smooth or stacked appearance, like an atmospheric pancake, and remain in place for
hours on end. They can also have sharper edges.
 ASPERITAS
Asperitas clouds are some of the newest clouds in the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO). These clouds exhibit wave-like structures and are quite chaotic
looking. THEY FORM WHEN THE LOW OR MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ARE
STABLE, ALLOWING AIR TO SETTLE IN HORIZONTAL LAYERS.
 TORNADOES
Tornadoes are such a rare weather phenomena that they attract hundreds, if not
thousands, of storm chasers to the Great Plains each spring and early
summer. Tornadoes, which are not their own cloud type, protrude from another rare,
rotating cloud, known as a wall cloud. Some tornadoes are not completely visible from the
ground to the base of the parent thunderstorm, due to a lack of moisture.