Clouds ENVI 1400 Lecture 9 ENVI 1400 Meteorology

  • Slides: 30
Download presentation
Clouds ENVI 1400: Lecture 9 ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting

Clouds ENVI 1400: Lecture 9 ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting

Cloud Classification Four latin terms form the basis for the naming of clouds: –

Cloud Classification Four latin terms form the basis for the naming of clouds: – – Cirrus : fibrous or hair-like Cumulus : a heap or pile Stratus : a horizontal sheet or layer Nimbus : rain-bearing The prefix Alto is used to indicate medium altitude clouds. Terms, and basic classifications first proposed by Luke Howard in 1803. http: //ww 2010. atmos. uiuc. edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cldtyp/home. rxml - good online guide ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 2

High Level: – Cloud base above 6000 m – Are all forms of cirrus

High Level: – Cloud base above 6000 m – Are all forms of cirrus (ice clouds) Medium Level: – Cloud base 2000 -6000 m Low level: – Cloud base below 2000 m (within boundary layer) ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 3

High-Level Clouds Cirrus (Ci): White, delicate, fibrous in appearance. Forms in patches or narrow

High-Level Clouds Cirrus (Ci): White, delicate, fibrous in appearance. Forms in patches or narrow bands. May for commashaped streaks or “mare’s tails” (cirrus uncinus) Cirrus clouds are formed entirely of ice crystals. These grow and evaporate slowly, leading to soft edges to clouds. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 4

Cirrostratus (Cs): Thin, transparent sheet or veil; sun clearly visible & casting shadows at

Cirrostratus (Cs): Thin, transparent sheet or veil; sun clearly visible & casting shadows at surface. A halo may be seen around the sun (or moon). Sheets of cirrostratus may cover entire sky, and be up to several 1000 m deep. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 5

Cirrocumulus (Cc): Thin white patch or sheet of cloud; appears dappled or rippled. Dappling

Cirrocumulus (Cc): Thin white patch or sheet of cloud; appears dappled or rippled. Dappling results from convective overturning within the cloud, ripples from gravity waves. Aircraft contrails: condensation from aircraft exhaust. May dissipate quickly, or be very longlived depending on conditions. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 6

Medium-Level Clouds Altostratus (As): A greyish sheet of cloud, may be fibrous or uniform

Medium-Level Clouds Altostratus (As): A greyish sheet of cloud, may be fibrous or uniform in appearance. Thin enough in parts to make out the sun, but no halo. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 7

Altocumulus (Ac): white or grey patches arranged in sheets. Shape and texture are variable.

Altocumulus (Ac): white or grey patches arranged in sheets. Shape and texture are variable. There are several distinct subclasses of altocumulus ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 8

Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac len): white or grey lenticular (lens shaped) clouds formed by the

Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac len): white or grey lenticular (lens shaped) clouds formed by the lifting of air over a topographic barrier. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 9

Altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas): white or grey, broken cumulus-like clouds; upper part appearing castle-like.

Altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas): white or grey, broken cumulus-like clouds; upper part appearing castle-like. Sometimes arranged in lines. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 10

Altocumulus undulatus (Ac und): white or grey patches or sheets of cloud with an

Altocumulus undulatus (Ac und): white or grey patches or sheets of cloud with an undulating or rippled appearance. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 11

Low-Level Clouds Cumulus (Cu): Brilliant white to grey, dense detached clouds. Forms clumped or

Low-Level Clouds Cumulus (Cu): Brilliant white to grey, dense detached clouds. Forms clumped or heaped (cauliflower-like) shapes, usually with sharp outlines and flat base. Field of Cu often have bases all at same (lifting condensation) level. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 12

Cumulus humilis (Cu hum): small cumulus, of limited vertical extent, may have a flattened

Cumulus humilis (Cu hum): small cumulus, of limited vertical extent, may have a flattened appearance. Also called fair-weather cumulus ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 13

Cumulus mediocris : cumulus, of moderate vertical extent. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting

Cumulus mediocris : cumulus, of moderate vertical extent. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 14

Cumulus congestus: crowded (congested) field of cumulus or greater vertical extent. May produce rain.

Cumulus congestus: crowded (congested) field of cumulus or greater vertical extent. May produce rain. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 15

Pileus : cap clouds that form above large cumulus as the upward motion of

Pileus : cap clouds that form above large cumulus as the upward motion of the convective cloud distorts the layer of air above (pileus is latin for skull-cap) ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 16

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 17

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 17

Cumulonimbus (Cb) : huge towering cloud, dark base and white sides. Associated with heavy

Cumulonimbus (Cb) : huge towering cloud, dark base and white sides. Associated with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail. Frequently has an anvil shaped top. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 18

mammatus : smooth, rounded shapes sometimes formed on the underside of cumulonimbus; they result

mammatus : smooth, rounded shapes sometimes formed on the underside of cumulonimbus; they result from downdrafts within the cloud. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 19

Stratocumulus (Sc) : white or grey sheet of cloud, usually formed in mounds or

Stratocumulus (Sc) : white or grey sheet of cloud, usually formed in mounds or rolls. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 20

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 21

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 21

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 22

ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 22

Stratocumulus with virga – hair-like strands of falling rain, which evaporate below cloud before

Stratocumulus with virga – hair-like strands of falling rain, which evaporate below cloud before reaching the surface. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 23

Stratus (St) : grey featureless layer of cloud with a uniform base. Often associated

Stratus (St) : grey featureless layer of cloud with a uniform base. Often associated with drizzle or snow. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 24

Nimbostratus (Ns) : Dark grey, featureless, thick layer of cloud. Associated with prolonged precipitation.

Nimbostratus (Ns) : Dark grey, featureless, thick layer of cloud. Associated with prolonged precipitation. Commonly forms in frontal systems ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 25

Precipitation • Cloud droplets require a condensation nuclei on which to form; growth then

Precipitation • Cloud droplets require a condensation nuclei on which to form; growth then occurs by deposition of water molecules from vapour. – Growth is limited by local supersaturation of the vapour – Growth rate decreases as droplet size increases • Cloud droplets are typically 10 to 30 m in diameter. Growth/evaporation can occur within a few 10 s of seconds. • Rain drops are typically 0. 5 to 5 mm in diameter, growth from the vapour would take several hours – longer than the lifetime of typical convective clouds. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 26

 • In order to grow into rain drops, cloud droplets must grow by

• In order to grow into rain drops, cloud droplets must grow by coalescence – Larger droplets fall faster than small ones, and can collide with them – The process by which a sufficient number of large enough droplets is generated remains a topic of active research • Ice crystals provide a more efficient process – Saturation vapour pressure over ice is less than that over water ice crystals grow at expense of water droplets – If ice crystal touches a droplet, the droplet freezes – Once large enough, ice crystals – or clumps of crystals – fall past droplets and collect them. Rapid growth of soft hail pellet (graupel) by riming. – Graupel falls from cloud, melting before reaching the surface as rain ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 27

Cloud Radiative Effects • Clouds play an important controlling role in the global radiation

Cloud Radiative Effects • Clouds play an important controlling role in the global radiation budget. – Reflection of incoming solar (short-wave) radiation – Absorption of both solar and thermal infra red (longwave) radiation (incoming & outgoing) – Emission of infra red radiation (up and down) • The altitude, type, and thickness of cloud, along with that of clouds above & below determines whether the local net effect is to warm or cool the air & surface below. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 28

Vertical Transport • Deep convective clouds play a major role in mixing boundary layer

Vertical Transport • Deep convective clouds play a major role in mixing boundary layer air – along with moisture, aerosol particles, and gases (both natural and man-made pollutants) – up into the free-troposphere. ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 29

Chemistry • Clouds provide an environment within which aqueous phase chemical reactions can take

Chemistry • Clouds provide an environment within which aqueous phase chemical reactions can take place within the atmosphere • Aerosol particles can be substantially modified within clouds – Aqueous phase reactions with gases dissolved in droplets – Coalescence of droplets brings multiple aerosol particles together • Chemically different aerosol may react • On evaporation of droplet, a single aerosol particle is formed, containing material from all contributing droplets ENVI 1400 : Meteorology and Forecasting 30