Knowledge of the natural world (including clouds) should be part of everyone’s general understanding. Clouds should be viewed as an easy introduction to a vast range of fascinating phenomena.

　　自然世界的知识(包括云)应该作为大众常识的一部分。云可以被视为有趣自然现象中一个简单的介绍。

　　So here is a list of those ten clouds, arranged conventionally in three height levels with the highest first in the list. It is, however, easiest to learn them from the bottom up. (Start with cumulus, the ‘cotton-wool’ fluffy, ‘fair-weather’ clouds.)

　　因此这里列出了十种云，按云层的高度从高到低排列。然而，从下往上地学习这些词汇可能是最简单的方法。(由cumulus堆积云开始--一种蓬松的、在好天气才可以见到的云彩)

　　Ten clouds 十种云朵~

　　cirrus: thin wisps of ice-crystal cloud at high altitudes

　　卷云：高海拔地区的薄层的冰晶云。

　　cirrostratus: a high-altitude, thin layer of ice-crystal cloud, formed from the spreading out of cirrus. Often shows some fibrous structure.

　　卷层云：高空、薄层的水晶云，由卷云的扩散形成。通常展示出了一些纤维结构。

　　cirrocumulus: a high-altitude layer of tiny heaps of ice-crystal cloud with no shading and clear gaps between the cloudlets.

　　卷积云：高空的小堆的冰晶云，云朵之间没有阴影和明显的缝隙。

　　altostratus: a middle-altitude layer of essentially featureless, white or grey cloud.

　　高层云：中层本质上毫无特色，是白色或灰色的云。

　　altocumulus: a middle altitude layer of moderate-sized heaps of cloud, with distinct shading and clear gaps between the cloudlets.

　　高积云：中层云，中等程度堆状云，云朵之间有明显的阴影和缝隙。

　　nimbostratus: a dense layer of cloud at middle levels, often extending down close to the surface. Often with a ragged base, and always producing prolonged rain.

　　雨层云：密集的中层云，密度均匀。云底较乱，通常呈现不规则形，通常产生长时间的降雨。

　　stratocumulus: a widespread layer of heaps or rolls of cloud at a low level, with distinct gaps and heavy shading.

　　层积云：堆状或卷状的低层云，有明显的缝隙和较重的阴影。

　　stratus: an essentially featureless, grey layer of cloud at low level. At ground level, it is mist or fog.

　　层云：这种云本质上毫无特色，灰色的低层云。在地平面时，它是薄雾或浓雾状。

　　cumulus: the most familiar cloud. Rounded heaps of white cloud at low levels, generally an indication of currently fine weather.

　　积云：最常见的云。白色的圆堆状低层云，一般是好天气的预兆。

　　cumulonimbus: the giant among clouds, that may tower through all three levels, sometimes with a flattened top . The shower cloud with dark, ragged base and heavy, localized rain, hail, or other severe weather.

　　积雨云：云体庞大，呈塔状，云体有时可以跨越三个云层，顶部也可呈扁平状。这种阵雨云的底部阴暗不规则，常带来大型降雨，局部降雨，冰雹或者其他恶劣的天气状况。

（编辑：何莹莹）