The Basic CirrusCirrus clouds are thin, wispy, and feather like clouds that are made of small ice crystals. They can be found high in the air at elevations usually higher than 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). They are similar to cumulus in that they both bring nice weather but cirrus clouds never release and precipitation. Two of this clouds nicknames are "Mackerel Sky" (cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds) and "Mare's Tails". Their Latin root (cirrus) means 'curl of hair' as they look like strands of hair. These clouds can be identified by their wispy and floaty appearance.
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CirrocumulusCirrocumulus clouds are thin but puffy clouds that can be found at high-level altitudes. They are a little bit lower than cirrus clouds floating at heights greater than 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) in the air. They along with the other cirrus cloud types never bring any form of precipitation. These clouds are sometimes called "Mackerel Sky" along with altocumulus clouds as their pattern looks like the scales on a mackerel. Its Latin roots (cirrus and cumulus) mean 'curl of hair' and 'heap'. These clouds can be identified by their high elevation and their fluffy appearance.
CirrostratusCirrostratus clouds are wispy like cirrus clouds but they cover the whole sky. They, also like cirrus, can be found a high level altitudes that can be found at elevations ranging from 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) to 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). These clouds do not bring precipitation. This cloud's Latin roots (cirrus and stratus) mean 'curl of hair' and 'layer' as they look like thin hairs that cover the sky. These clouds are easily identifiable by their hair-like appearance and the fact that they cover the sky.
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