Final answer:
Altostratus and Altocumulus are mid-level clouds found at lower altitudes than the high-altitude Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus clouds. The latter form at higher levels where ice crystals make up their composition due to colder temperatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed is regarding whether Altostratus and Altocumulus clouds are found at lower altitudes compared to Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus clouds. The answer is yes. Altostratus and Altocumulus are classified as mid-level clouds, typically forming between 2,000 and 7,000 meters (6,500 to 23,000 feet) above ground level. Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus, on the other hand, are high-level clouds that usually form above 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). The high clouds can often be identified by their thin, wispy appearance, which is due to their composition of ice crystals, as they are at higher altitudes where temperatures are much colder.
For instance, high clouds in the atmosphere of Neptune consist of methane ice crystals and can cast shadows on the clouds below, indicating their greater altitude. Similarly, the upper zones of Jupiter's atmosphere contain white ammonia cirrus clouds that are indicative of higher atmospheric layers. In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric wind and weather are primarily confined to the troposphere which extends up to about 12 km high, and this is where we find the majority of weather-associated cloud formations.