types of clouds
the cloud that is associated with bad weather and thunder storms
what is cumulonimbus
The lowest layer and the one we live in
what is Troposphere
Liquid water droplets that form and fall through temperatures consistently above the freezing point (32f or 0c).
what is Rain
Cold, dense air advances and pushes under warmer air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly
what is Cold Front
Measures air temperature
what is Thermometer
they resemble a big white fluffy cotton like appearance
what is cumulus
The layer directly above the troposphere. It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
what is Stratosphere
Frozen precipitation that falls as ice crystals (snowflakes). It forms and remains below freezing throughout its entire descent to the ground.
what is Snow
Warm air advances and glides upward over a retreating mass of cooler air
what is warm front
Measures atmospheric pressure, which helps predict changes in the weather
what is Barometer
Wispy, feathery strands often carried by high winds. They typically indicate a change in the weather is coming
what is Cirrus
The middle layer of the atmosphere it is also the coldest layer, where temperatures can drop below (-90). This is also where most meteors burn up upon entry, creating fiery shooting stars.
what is the Mesosphere
(Ice Pellets): Small, translucent balls of ice. These form when snowflakes melt into raindrops in a warm layer of air, then refreeze into solid ice as they pass through a sub-freezing layer near the ground.
what is Sleet
A boundary between two air masses where neither is strong enough to replace the other, causing it to stall
what is Stationary Front
Measures humidity or water vapor in the air
what is Hygrometer
Low, flat, hazy, and featureless gray blanket clouds that can resemble elevated fog. They often produce light drizzle
what is Stratus
Temperatures spike dramatically, sometimes reaching up to (2,000). This layer contains the Ionosphere, which is filled with charged particles that bounce radio waves and create the auroras (Northern and Southern Lights).
what is Thermosphere
Solid, irregularly shaped lumps or balls of ice that form inside severe thunderstorms. Strong updrafts in the storm toss water droplets high up into freezing zones, building thick layers of ice before they become heavy enough to fall
what is Hail
A complex front that forms when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slower warm front, lifting the warm air completely off the ground
what is Occluded Front
Measures the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period
what is Rain Gauge
Gray and white patches or rolls that look like fluffy, rippling masses. If you see these on a warm, sticky summer morning, expect thunderstorms by late afternoon.
what is Altocumulus
It is extremely thin and primarily composed of lightweight gases like hydrogen and helium. Many Earth-observing satellites orbit in this region.
what is Exosphere
Rain that falls as a liquid through sub-freezing air but doesn't have enough time to refreeze in the air; it freezes immediately upon contact with cold surfaces, creating a dangerous glaze of ice
what is Freezing Rain
A long, fast-moving line of severe, tightly-packed thunderstorms that develops along or 100-300 miles ahead of a cold front
what is Squall Line
Shows the direction of the wind
what is Wind Vane