If possible, the vertical extent of the clouds should also be determined. The basis for the reported height or altitude (estimation, measurement by ceilometer, etc.) High clouds have base heights of 3,000 to 7,600 meters (10,000 to 25,000 ft) in polar regions, 5,000 to 12,200 meters (16,500 to 40,000 ft) in temperate regions, and 6,100 to 18,300 meters (20,000 to 60,000 ft) in the tropical region. The Weather and Folklore of Altocumulus Clouds, Air Pressure and How It Affects the Weather, Basic Facts Everyone Should Know About Clouds, The Jet Stream: What It Is and How It Affects Our Weather, B.S., Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, University of North Carolina. Low clouds, which include cumulus and clouds, can form anywhere from near the surface up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). For instance, cumulonimbus clouds can develop vertically through a substantial part of the troposphere and often result in thunderstorms with lightning and heavy showers. Cloud height, also known as cloud thickness or cloud depth is the distance between a cloud's base, or bottom, and its top. Tiffany Means is a meteorologist and member of the American Meteorological Society who has worked for CNN, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and more. This characteristic is called cloud thickness or cloud depth. Or, it can describe the height of the cloud itself -- the distance between its base and its top, or how "tall" it is. By contrast, very thin clouds (such as cirrus clouds) do not generate any precipitation at the surface of the Earth. For this reason, it is reported in METAR (METeorological Aviation Reports) but only when sky conditions are broken, overcast, or obscured. Because it affects visibility, it determines whether pilots can use Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or must follow Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) instead. For example, cumulonimbus clouds, which are among the deepest clouds, are known for their thunderstorms and heavy downpours whereas very thin clouds (like cirrus) don't generate any precipitation at all. Clouds are generally encountered over a range of heights between the ground and about 60,000 feet. Stratus clouds hang low in the sky as a flat, featureless, uniform layer of grayish cloud. … ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, 10 Weird Atmospheric Phenomena That'll Spook You, How to Find the Perfect Weather for Skydiving. Cloud height is not measured directly but is derived from separate measurements of cloud base and cloud top altitudes. Sometimes, the expression cloud height is used instead of cloud base, in which case the context has to clarify whether the intent is to designate the height of the base of the cloud or the size of it. It isn't measured directly but rather is calculated by subtracting the altitude of its top from that of its base. The Height of Clouds The traditional division between the Polar and Temperate Regions is the Arctic Circle (66.5°N) in the Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle (66.5°S) in the Southern Hemisphere. For instance, cumulonimbus clouds can develop vertically through a substantial part of the troposphere and often result in thunderstorms with lightning and heavy showers. As the laser travels through the air, it encounters cloud droplets and is scattered back to the receiver on the ground which then calculates the distance (i.e., the height of the cloud base) from the strength of the return signal. [1] It is traditionally expressed either in metres or as a pressure difference in hectopascal (hPa, equivalent to millibar). For a synthetic discussion of the impact of clouds on the climate system, see the IPCC Third Assessment Report, in particular chapter 7.2. Cloud thickness isn't just some arbitrary thing -- it's actually related to how much precipitation a cloud is capable of producing. Cloud height is often related to the intensity of precipitation generated by a cloud: deeper clouds tend to produce more intense rainfall. … The observer should measure or estimate the height of the cloud base above the level of the place of observation or the altitude above mean sea level. By convention, the atmosphere is vertically divided into three levels: high, middle and low. Cloud ceiling is measured using a weather instrument known as a ceilometer. Cloud height is often related to the intensity of precipitation generated by a cloud: deeper clouds tend to produce more intense rainfall. should always be stated. At the upper reaches of the troposphere you’ll find high clouds, which, depending on geographic location, occur between roughly 10,000 and 60,000 feet. Each level is defined by the range of heights at which clouds of a certain type occur most frequently. What Causes Rainbow-Colored Clouds in the Sky? Ceilometers work by sending out an intense laser beam of light into the sky. A cloud's height is determined by a number of things, including the type of cloud and the level at which condensation happens at that particular time of day (this changes depending on what the atmospheric conditions are). High clouds have base heights of 3,000 to 7,600 meters (10,000 to 25,000 ft) in polar regions, 5,000 to 12,200 meters (16,500 to 40,000 ft) in temperate regions, and 6,100 to 18,300 meters (20,000 to 60,000 ft) in the tropical region. Middle clouds form at altitudes of 2,000 to 4,000 meters (6,500 to 13,000 ft) above ground near the poles, 2,000 to 7,000 meters (6,500 to 23,000 ft) at mid-latitudes, and 2,000 to 2,600 meters (6,500 to 25,000 ft) at the tropics. Have you ever looked up at the sky while cloud watching and wondered exactly how high above ground clouds float? Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cloud_height&oldid=967493308, Articles needing additional references from February 2009, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 July 2020, at 15:27. When we talk about cloud height, we have to be careful because it can mean one of two things. It can refer to the height above ground, in which case it is called the cloud ceiling or cloud base. (ceiling because it is the. The cloud height, more commonly known as cloud thickness or depth, is the distance between the cloud base and the cloud top. Cloud ceiling is an important weather condition for aviation safety. By contrast, very thin clouds (such as cirrus clouds) do not generate any precipitation at the surface of the Earth. Cloud ceiling is … The thicker the cloud, the heavier the precipitation that falls from it. All of the pictures on these pages were taken in the Lower Keys, unless otherwise noted. Low level clouds are generally based at or below 6,500 feet above ground, mid-level clouds are generally based between 6,500 feet and 15,000 feet above ground, and high level clouds are generally based more than 15,000 feet above ground. Stratus. Cloud ceiling refers to the height above the earth's surface of the cloud base (or of the lowest cloud layer if there's more than one type of cloud in the sky.)