In general, there are two ways clouds form. In both cases, though, the clouds form because the air is cooling. In the atmosphere, rising air cools and sinking air warms. In most cases, the clouds that you see are caused by rising air.
Clouds can also form when the air gets colder for other reasons. This can happen overnight when the air is cooling, or when warm air moves over a cold lake or a snowcovered surface.
Clouds are classified based on how high they are in the sky, whether they are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals, their general appearance, and whether they are producing precipitation. On the next few pages, I'll explain some of the basic terminology used to classify clouds.
Puffy clouds are called cumulus or have the prefix "cumulo." Clouds that form a layer are called stratus or have the prefix "strato." Clouds that are made up of ice crystals are called cirrus or have the prefix "cirro." Clouds that produce precipitation are called nimbus or have the prefix "nimbo."
We often need to combine the various cloud terms to accurately describe the clouds we see.

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