CLOUDS Analyzing the formation of clouds OBJECTIVE After

CLOUDS Analyzing the formation of clouds.

OBJECTIVE After reviewing this, you should be able to identify and describe the different types of clouds that are grouped accordingly: Low clouds Medium clouds High clouds Clouds with vertical development

CLOUD FORMATION Clouds form when air rises and cools. Clouds are made of tiny drops of water. These drops stick to dust and other tiny particles in the air.

LOW CLOUDS Stratus clouds are uniform clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that does not reach the ground. Usually no precipitation fails from stratus clouds, but sometimes they may drizzle.

LOW CLOUDS Fog on a clear day when the surface of the earth cools more quickly, a stratus cloud or fog will form close to the ground.

LOW CLOUDS Nimbostratus clouds form a dark gray, “wet” looking cloudy layer associated with continuously falling rain or snow. They often produce precipitation that is usually light to moderate.

MIDDLE CLOUDS Altocumulus Clouds are middle level clouds that are of water droplets and appear as gray, puffy masses, sometimes rolled out in parallel waves or bands. The appearance of these clouds on a warm, humid summer morning often means thunderstorms may occur by late afternoon.

MIDDLE CLOUDS Altostratus Clouds are gray or blue-gray middle level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. These clouds usually cover the entire sky. In the thinner areas of the cloud, the sun may be dimly visible as a round disk. The often form ahead of storms that will produce continuous precipitation.

HIGH CLOUDS Cirrus Clouds are thin, wispy clouds blown by high winds into long streamers. They are considered “high clouds” forming above 6000 m (20, 000 ft). Cirrus clouds usually move across the sky from west to east. They generally mean fair to pleasant weather.

HIGH CLOUDS Cirrostratus Clouds are thin, sheet-like high clouds that often cover the entire sky. They are so thin that the sun and moon can be seen through them.

HIGH CLOUDS Cirrocumulus Clouds appear as small, rounded white puffs. The small ripples in the cirrocumulus sometimes resemble the scales of a fish. A sky with cirrocumulus clouds is sometimes referred to as a “mackerel sky”.

CLOUDS WITH VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT Cumulus Clouds are puffy clouds that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton. The base of each cloud is often flat. These clouds are big, dark, and tall clouds that can bring thunderstorms.

RESOURCES www. schoolscience. rice. edu/duker/weathertypeclouds. html www. urbanect. uinc. edu/weather/2 html www. weatherstock. com/hailcat 3. html http: //search. yahoo. com/search? fr=mcafee&p=fog+golden+gate+bridge www. google. com’images