Which cloud type is characterized by being high, patchy, and wispy?

The cloud type characterized by being high, patchy, and wispy is Cirrocumulus. These clouds are typically found at high altitudes, above 20,000 feet, and consist of small white patches or strands that often appear as ripples or wisps across the sky. Their formation is due to the presence of ice crystals at these higher elevations, which gives them a distinct, ethereal quality that sets them apart from other types of clouds.

Unlike Cumulonimbus, which are tall and dense thunderstorm clouds typically associated with severe weather, Cirrocumulus clouds do not have the same vertical development or storm-producing characteristics. Nimbostratus clouds are thick and uniform, mainly associated with continuous precipitation, but do not exhibit the patchiness and wispy nature of Cirrocumulus. Altostratus clouds are generally thicker and cover the sky more uniformly, lacking the high and wispy structure of Cirrocumulus. This differentiation in appearance and altitude helps to identify Cirrocumulus as the correct answer to the question.