Definition
A weather product displayed on a Multi-Function Display (MFD) that shows the altitude of the upper surface of cloud layers across a geographic area, typically rendered as a color-coded or shaded map overlay with altitude values in feet MSL.
Plain English
A picture on the cockpit screen that shows how high the tops of the clouds reach in different areas, so the pilot can see at a glance where clouds are tall and where they are low.
Context Anchor
Seen on electronic flight display or multi-function display weather pages when reviewing datalink weather in the cockpit.
Derivation
Graphical means presented as a picture or map rather than as text or numbers. Cloud tops refers to the highest altitude of a cloud layer. Together: a map-style picture showing how high cloud layers reach.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing cloud top heights helps decide whether to climb over, descend below, or reroute around weather to avoid icing and turbulence.
Grounding Statement
If the display shows cloud tops near 12,000 feet along the route, the pilot should not assume a lower altitude will be above the cloud layer.
Intuition Check
Do not read graphical cloud tops as a live photograph of every cloud. It is an estimated cloud-top height shown on a map, and it may be older or less exact than what the pilot sees outside.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot pulled up the graphical cloud tops display and saw that the layer ahead topped out at 9,000 feet, well below their cruise altitude.
Example Sentence 2
Before departure the instructor pointed to the graphical cloud tops display to show where the tops were low enough for VFR flight.