Cloud Chart

Cloud Chart thumbnail H1 clouds - Filaments of Ci H2 clouds - Dense Ci in patches H3 clouds - Anvil shaped Dense Ci H4 clouds - Hooked shaped Ci H5 clouds - Cs not reaching 45° altitude H6 clouds - Cs exceeding 45° altitude H7 clouds - Veil of Cs H8 clouds - Cs not increasing or covering entire sky H9 clouds - Cc alone or main cirriform cloud M1 clouds - Thin As M2 clouds - Thick As covering the sun or moon, or Ns M3 clouds - Thin Ac at single level M4 clouds - Thin Ac in patches M5 clouds - Thin Ac in bands usually thickening M6 clouds - Ac from spreading Cu or Cb M7 clouds - Double layered or thick Ac or Ac with As and/or Ns M8 clouds - Ac in form of Cu-shaped turrets M9 clouds - Ac of a chaotic sky, usually at different levels L1 clouds - Cu of fair weather L2 clouds - Cu of considerable development L3 clouds - Cb with tops lacking clear-cut outlines L4 clouds - Sc formed from spreading Cu - bases at same level L5 clouds - Sc NOT formed from Cu L6 clouds - St or StFra (stratus fractus) but with no bad weather L7 clouds - StFra and/or CuFra of bad weather L8 clouds - Cu and Sc with bases at different levels L9 clouds - Cb with cirriform top Cumulonimbus mamatus Tornadoes Wall Cloud Shelf Cloud Wave Clouds

Clouds: Wave Clouds


H1 cloud
Additional Views:
Wave Cloud
Another wave cloud

Notes: Wave clouds are essentially the same as the M4 clouds. These are altocumulus clouds that, for the most part, remain stationary as the wind blows though the cloud. Wave cloud result from atmospheric standing waves.

These waves are created as stable air flows over a mountain range. As an air moves through the wave, it rises and descends repeatedly. If there is enough moisture in the atmosphere, clouds will form at the crests of these waves. In the descending part of the wave this cloud will evaporate.


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