High-altitude clouds, found at the highest levels of the troposphere, are primarily made of ice crystals due to the extremely cold temperatures. According to available information, one well-known type of high-altitude cloud is the Cirrus cloud.
Cirrus Clouds
Cirrus clouds are easily recognizable and possess distinct characteristics:
- Composition: Entirely composed of ice crystals. This is due to the extremely cold temperatures at high altitudes.
- Precipitation: Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds, although the ice crystals evaporate before reaching the ground. This evaporation occurs high above the Earth's surface.
- Appearance: High winds (100-150 mph) cause the ice crystals to spread into wispy, feathery streaks.
