Aero-Terms!

Designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world, ANN Contributor Aleta "I'm Not Making An Asterisk Of Myself" Vinas will be selecting... and presenting unique aeronautical terms each day from all tiers of the aviation world...

Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game and with a full year's selection already coming together, we can assure you that Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms.

Cool, no?

Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term.

Clouds

Clouds are classified by their appearance and height.

• A high cloud group above 20,000 feet is prefixed by cirro, which means curls of hair in Latin. Usually signify good weather if winds are from W NW to N keep your eye open when they move in from other directions. 
• Alto, meaning height, is the prefix for mid level clouds 6,500 to 20,000 feet. Can be the bearers of precipitation. 
• A low level cloud group from ground level (we call that fog) to 6,500 feet has no prefix, but precipitation is likely.
• Vertical development clouds -- Cumulus means heap or pile. A few fluffy cottonballs can be fair weather cumulus, but once vertical development starts, get out the umbrellas. Stratus means layers and designates appearance -- nimbus in a cloud type means rain. 

FMI: www.geo.mtu.edu/department/classes/ge406/tjbrabec/cloud.html, www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cloud_types.html, www.carlwozniak.com/clouds/types.html, www.cloudman.com/atlas/atlas.htm