Which of the following statements regarding clouds is/are correct ?

1. Clouds are classified on the basis of altitude and their form.
2. According to altitude they are classified as High, Middle and Low clouds.
3. Stratus, Nimbostratus and Stratocumulus are high clouds.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2024

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Statement 1 is correct. Clouds are indeed classified based on their altitude (High, Middle, Low, and vertical development) and their form or appearance (e.g., cirrus, cumulus, stratus). Statement 2 is correct. The classification based on altitude includes High clouds (above 6 km), Middle clouds (between 2 and 6 km), and Low clouds (below 2 km). Statement 3 is incorrect. Stratus, Nimbostratus, and Stratocumulus are classified as low clouds (with bases typically below 2 km). High clouds include Cirrus, Cirrostratus, and Cirrocumulus.

The main cloud types based on form are Cirrus (fibrous), Cumulus (heaped/lumpy), and Stratus (layered). Combinations and variations of these forms, along with their altitude, lead to the more specific cloud classifications. ‘Nimbus’ or ‘nimbostratus’ indicates precipitation.

Clouds of vertical development, such as Cumulus and Cumulonimbus, span multiple altitude layers. Cumulonimbus clouds, for instance, can have their base in the low layer but extend up to the high layer, producing thunderstorms. Middle clouds often have the prefix ‘Alto-‘, e.g., Altocumulus and Altostratus.

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