How to Identify Cirrus Clouds

Look high into a nearly clear sky. You'll see wispy, feathery clouds tracing across the edge of the stratosphere. Those clouds are cirrus clouds - moisture thrust up by storms far away to turn to ice crystal in the freezing air.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Weather Radios
• Binoculars Cases
• Telescope Carrying Cases
• Telescope Tripods
• Telescopes
• Binoculars
• Binoculars
• Binoculars Straps

Cirrus Clouds

1. Think moisture when you see any cloud.

2. Look for cirrus clouds sailing across the sky at altitudes above 18,000 feet.

3. Notice the white and delicate nature of cirrus clouds as they stretch out into thin, hair-like wisps.

4. Know that at that altitude, you're seeing clouds formed of ice crystals.

Cirrus Cloud Combinations

5. Remember that cirrus cloud combinations refer to the altitude at which the cloud forms and moves.

6. Check the upper altitudes for a sheetlike covering of thin clouds. This is a cirrostratus cloud formation.

7. Notice the patterns generated by cirrocumulus clouds. Cirrocumulus clouds may appear as a series of connected puffs or ripples.

Tips & Warnings

• Weather watching is great fun and a wonderful teaching tool - but be careful during thunderstorms.