SANParks.org Forums • View topic - Clouds of Southern Africa's skys

Now that i am learning about clouds in Geography and on my FGASA course it is starting up an interest in my head.....

First of all the different types of clouds here in SA

1- Cirrocumulus (High cloud)
2- Cirrus (High cloud)
3- Cirrostratus (High Cloud)
4- Altocumulus (Middle cloud)
5- Altostratus (Middle cloud)
6- Nimbostratus (Low cloud)
7- Stratocumulus (Low cloud)
8- Stratus (Low cloud)
9- Cumulus (Vertical development)
10- Cumulonimbus (Thunderstorm)

*The above info is taken from the FGASA level 1 learner's manual*

Cirrocumulas-

These clouds are small'ish and are genrally grouped or in lines.

Cirrus-

This cloud is a feather like cloud which is one of the highest along with the other cirrus type clouds. This cloud genrally occurs at 6000-12000m.
The edge of the cloud normally curls in a feather like fashion.

Cirrostratus-

This cloud is also found at the above hight and is more of a layer of a cloud. When this formation occurs it normally shows that a warm front is on its way. It also normally gives the sun and moon a halo effect. This is a spectacular thing to witness! i large ring forms around the moon or sun. I have personally seen the moon halo twice and it is marvelous!

I shall do Altocumulus, Altostratus and Nimbostratus soon...

Interesting info there Batmad :thumbs_up:

thank you bently and nyaman :thumbs_up:

Like i said above the Cirrostratus cloud is magnificent to witness! Keep an eye out for it if you in the southern hemisphere when you go out into your garden at night......Have a look at the moon and you might beable to see it.

Well done Batmad :thumbs_up:

I only wish my brain could keep all infos like this :doh:

Will defintely keep my eyes peeled to view the halo effect, so a person could give a weather forecast by watching the clouds :hmz:

Hi, Batmad saw this at 12.56 some time ago, we where on top of Mathekenyane Granokop off the H1-1,haveing a bite to eat. Have read somewhere what it is but can not find it. If i remember correctly it is not a common ocurance. If you can help thanks.

The following question was asked in my son's geography class the other day..
"Class.. where does one find Stratocumulus clouds?"
The answer promptly came...
"In the sky Sir..!

Class disrupted...

I still struggle with telling different clouds apart (in real life)

Found it, it's called "cloud iridescence" or irisation and is a diffraction phenomenon.It is normally caused by small water droplets or ice crystals of similar size within a cloud.The cloud must be optically thin so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colourfull iridescene because their droplets are all of the same size.This also normally occurs at between 6 to 13 degrees from the sun.