CHAP - Cloud
Cloud is an aggregate of visual form of water droplets or ice particles. The cloud
drops are produced by condensation and deposition of water vapour in the
atmosphere.
Classification
There are 10 general clouds classified on the basis of form and height. by form they
are either stratiform or cumuliform. According to height they are placed in 3
categories :-
1. High Cloud : 6 to 18km in tropics. Consist of ice particles caused by
precipitation which remains confined to high or medium only.
2. Medium Cloud : 2 to 8km. contain water droplets and ice crystals cause snow
and rain.
3. Low Cloud : below 2km. Consist of water droplets and ice crystals.
High Cloud : Cirrus(CI), Cirrostratus(CS), Cirucumulus(CC)
1. Cirus(CI) : white and fibrous, delicate or patches, composed of ice crystals,
don't cause precipitation or ice accretion.
2. Cirrostratus (CS) : thin whitish, veil of fibrous or smooth appearance,
composed of ice crystals, they cover almost the whole sky(HALO). A coloured
circular ring around the sun or moon with violet colour inside when thick. They
may cause snow fall with a confined to high and medium level. They hardly
cause any ice accretion.
3. Cirucumulus (CC) : thin white waved like very small puffs, composed of ice
crystals, they are regularly arranged, the sky is visual in between the puffs,
don't cause precipitation and hardly ice accretion.
Medium Cloud :- Altocumulus(AC), Altostratus(AS)
1. Altocumulus (AC) : white grey clouds, round masses are generally well
arranged in long waves in row or line. Sky is visual in between the puffs,
formed at crests of mountains wave on the leeward side of high mountain.
Don't cause precipitation but make ice acceleration.
2. Altostratus (AS) : uniformly grayish or whitish cloud sheet or totally or
partially covers sky. Corona occurs in these clouds. Thick AS causes
continuous rain or snow. Ice acceleration is possible below freezing
temperature.
Low clouds :- Nimbostratus(NS), Stratocumulus(SC), Stratus(ST)
1. Nimbostratus(NS) : dark grey and thick cloud layers cause continuous rain or
snow. Thick enough to blot out the sun. Extend from low to medium level. Ice
acceleration is possible below freezing temperature.
2. Stratocumulus (SC) : large irregular puffs or roll, grey or whitish in
appearance. SC clouds are regularly arranged.
3. Stratus(ST) : is a grey cloud with a uniform base , may stretch from horizon to
horizon, may give drizzle or ice prism or snow grain. The ST cloud touching
the ground or sitting on ground is called fog. In the bad weather it is in the
form of small fractures called Fractostratus.
Cloud with vertical development
1. Cumulus(CU) : base is dark and nearly horizontal, upper portion of CU is in
the form of cauliflower. The sunlight parts of these clouds are brilliant white
and also known as towering cumulus.
2. Cumulonimbus(CB) : heavy and dense cloud of large vertical extent as
mountain or huge tower. Upper portion is usually smooth, flattened and
spread out as an anvil. The base of this cloud is very dark and consist of
cumulus, fracto or stratus fracto cloud with precipitation sometimes scene is
vigra. CB causes all types of precipitation, rain, snow grain , icing, sandstorm,
dust storm and all types of activities.
Cyclone Or Tropical cyclone (TRS)
The cyclone which originates in the tropical region at sea is called a tropical cyclone.
Wind speed is greater than 34 kts. They move from East to West in huge winds and
cause severe weather. They will cause heavy rain, strong wind and heavy or high
tides.
TRS develops over warm water sea surface temperature 26°C to 27°C and above.
The central pressure in TRS is between 1000 to 900 hPa.
The radius of TRS is about 100 km.
These are also known as Tropical Revolving Storm.
Tropical storm are known by different names in different countries;
India - Cyclone
Atlantic and Eastern areas - Hurricane
Western areas - Typhoon
Philippines - Baguio
Australia - Willy Willy
Characteristics
In mature phase a cyclone has 4 parts :
1. Eye: it is the central area of the cyclone of about 10-30 km diameter. In the
eye winds are light and there is very little or no cloud. The air in the eye is 6°C
to 8°C warmer than the surrounding due to slow descending motion.
2. Inner Storm Area (Hurricane core) : the eye is surrounded by an area of width
50km to 150km with wind speed greater than 64kts and wall clouds are also
formed. The eye wall is the most dangerous area of the cyclone.
3. Outer Storm Area : outside the core is an Outer Storm Area extending to
about 400km in which wind is about more than 34kts and decreases
outwards. But in this CB cloud may also form and rain occurs.
4. Edge of the storm : this is the outermost region of the storm where the winds
are weak and clouding deminates.
Extend and movement
A wall developed near TRS is vast and violent while speed 150km to 1000km across
and height 10km to 18km.
Overseas it moves at speeds of 300km to 500km per day.
Cyclone storms form over Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. Moves in land. They
cause damage and deviation over the coastal areas.
Tropical Storm Over India
The storm which forms over Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea are for a very short
period of time that is why the majority of Indian cyclones are not as violent as other
countries.
The average life of Indian cyclone is 3 or 4 days max being 6 to 7 days.
Flying Conditions
The central area outside the eye for extensive and broken cloud mass or be eye
wall.
Cloud base may lower down to the earth surface and top of CB (18km-20km).
Strong up and downdrafts occur in various parts of the storm. It also experiences
rain and very strong winds.
Frequency of Cyclone
In Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea the frequency is almost nil in the month of
February and March. They are very frequent in May, June, October and November.
The maximum frequency is in October and November.
Avoidance of TRS
On whatever compass course the cyclone is approached is a strong base for the
course indicates the central area like somewhere ahead. If the course is alert until
the wind is formed starboard. The center will be avoided.
Low Pressure System
Low pressure : when wind speed is less than 17kts over sea.
Depression : 17kts to 27kts
Deep depression : 28kts to 33kts
Cyclone Storm : 34kts to 47kts
Severe cyclone storm : 48kts to 63kts
Very severe Cyclone storm : 64kts to <120kts
Super cyclone storm : > 120 it's
Monsoon Depression
A depression is a low pressure area with two or more closed isobars at 2hPa
intervals.
In India they form over both Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season known as
Monsoon Depression.
In a depression the surface winds are 17kts to 33kts. In June, July and August
depression form overhead of the Bay of Bengal they move north to North Westerly
into land.
The average life of monsoon depression is 3 to 5 days. Rainfall occurs in steady and
heavy form. In a belt of 400km width. Fair weather over Assam during monsoon.
Western Disturbance
Western Disturbances are low or troughs which move from West to East over India.
They are in an occluded stage. And cause warm or cold front types of weather. Their
intensity over north west india, average frequency of western disturbance is 5 to 7
times per month in winters. They take moisture from Arabian sea. They decrease in
monsoon months and again start affecting from October onwards from
Pakistan/Rajasthan. they move northeast towards western Himalayas. A few western
disturbances move east towards UP,Bihar. The rate of movement is about 250 to 300
km per day. Weather is confined to Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,
Uttranchal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh UP,Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, north
east India.
The area of max clouding and precipitation is always along foothills wide spread for
cold waves are common. After the passing of western disturbance fog lifts up in the
afternoon but sometimes it goes for the whole day.
Aviation Hazard
Low cloud for visuality, rain,thunderstorm, hail, icing and after passing wide spread
fog. During pre monsoon haze and dustrom are experienced over north west India.
