Which one of the following statements is correct?

Option 1 is correct: cirrus clouds occur at high altitudes and are composed of ice crystals, appearing thin and feathery or wispy [2]. Statement 2 is incorrect because the description “flat base and appearance of rising domes” characterizes cumulus-type clouds (puffy, cauliflower-like) rather than cirrus [2]. Statement 3 is false since cumulus clouds are typically white, puffy, and vertically developed (cotton‑ball or cauliflower shapes), while the “white, thin, delicate patches, fibrous and feathery” description corresponds to cirrus clouds [2]. Statement 4 is incorrect because cumulus belong to the low‑level family or clouds with extensive vertical development, not the high‑cloud group (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) [2].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > Cirrus Clouds > p. 333
2. [2] https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/project/the-types-of-clouds-and-what-they-mean-2/