Cold Clouds

• Cold clouds are defined as those clouds with tops colder than 0°C

• can be comprised of:

  • water
  • super-cooled water - liquid droplets observed at temps less than 0°C
  • ice

• Notice that super cooled water is found at altitudes where:

  • -40°C < Temp < 0°C

• only ice is found at altitudes above -40°C

• Q: So how does frozen precipitation form in cold clouds?