Cirrus
All high clouds are a type of cirrus cloud, where cirrostratus and cirrocumulus clouds are simply different forms. Cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals that provide them with their white colour. They are recognised as being wispy, delicate clouds that may have feathery filaments known as 'mare' tails , indicating strong, upper atmosphere winds. They often are present in the advance of a warm front where the air masses meet at high levels. There is no precipitation from cirrus clouds.
CirrostratusCirrostratus are found high up in the atmosphere and hence are composed of ice crystals. They appear like a thin, milky layer and when the sun shines through, a halo effect can be created. Cirrostratus clouds can often cover large areas of up to thousands of miles and be up to several thousand feet thick. No precipitation is found with this cloud type.
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Cirrocumulus
Cirrocumulus appear as small, white, globular masses with a rippled appearance. This cloud type is found in the higher atmosphere, generally forming at an altitude between 16,000 and 30,000ft and is composed of ice crystals. Unlike the other high level cloud types, Cirrocumulus are always broken up into tiny elements or ripples. No precipitation is associated with this cloud type.
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