Which cloud type is classified as vertically developed?

Cumulus clouds are classified as vertically developed clouds due to their characteristic growth in height, often forming in a puffy, rounded shape with a flat base. These clouds typically develop from rising air, which cools and condenses to form water droplets. This vertical growth can lead to the formation of larger cumulonimbus clouds, which are capable of severe weather, including thunderstorms.

In contrast, other cloud types such as cirrus clouds are thin and wispy, forming at high altitudes with little vertical development. Stratus clouds are characterized by a uniform layer that covers the sky and lacks significant vertical depth. Nimbostratus clouds, while they do produce precipitation, primarily extend horizontally rather than vertically, leading to overcast conditions without the significant height associated with cumulonimbus or even cumulus clouds. This distinction emphasizes how cumulonimbus clouds stand out as vertically developed formations compared to the other listed types, which tend to spread out more laterally.