How do clouds form When water vapor in

How do clouds form? When water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals.

Water in the Sky Evaporation and Condensation: Changing Water There are three types of water. When it is a solid we call it ice. When it is a liquid we call it water. When it is a gas we call it vapor.

These three different types of water are called states. Water can change its state. When ice melts, changing into water, or when water evaporates, changing into vapor, a little heat is needed. When water freezes into ice or condenses from vapor to a liquid, a little bit of heat is released. The heat that is needed for or released from these changes in state is called latent heat.

How Clouds Are Formed Cooling air that contains water vapor will cause the vapor molecules in the air to slow down. As they slow down, some molecules are not able to maintain their vapor form. They cluster (condense) in the air to form tiny liquid droplets. Typically they need some sort of particle, such as dust, to condense upon. These particles are called condensation. A cloud is composed of tiny water droplets (or ice crystals) that are suspended in the air. If the droplets become large enough, they may be visible as a cloud or fog. They may also fall to Earth in the form of rain (or snow).

Condensation When the water vapor reaches the high cool air, it turns into water drops that form the clouds. This is condensation and is part of the water cycle.

TYPES OF CLOUDS There are many types of clouds. Clouds are classified by: 1. Their color 2. Their shape and size 3. Where they form in the atmosphere.

STRATUS Sheets of low, grey clouds that bring light snow, rain, or drizzle.

FOG A cloud in contact with the ground. Fog is a type of Stratus cloud.

CUMULUS White and puffy clouds that usually mean good weather.

CUMULUS Cumulus clouds are fun to watch. People often see “pictures” in the sky made by Cumulus clouds.

CIRRUS Thin, featherlike clouds that are made of ice crystals high in the atmosphere. Usually means a change in the weather is coming.

CIRRUS CLOUDS

What does the color of a cloud tell you? The color of a cloud lets you know how much water it contains. White clouds have little water. Dark clouds usually mean heavy rain. Grey clouds can mean snow or rain.

Where do clouds form? Clouds form along weather fronts.

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