Show:
About clouds
Cloud types
Keywords
Clouds 1
Clouds 2
100
What is cloud?
Clouds consist of tiny water droplets, or ice particles, that are too light to fall to earth. Clouds are visible accumulations of tiny water droplets or ice crystals in the Earth’s atmosphere. Clouds differ greatly in size, shape, and color. They can appear thin and wispy, or bulky and lumpy.
100
How many main types of cloud are there?
3 main types and 7 sub-types
100
Where there is little vertical uplift, but the uplift is over a wide area, clouds form in layers and are known as ...
Stratus Stratus clouds are horizontal and stratified, or layered. Stratus clouds can blanket the entire sky in a single pattern. They usually occur close to the Earth. Stratus clouds often form at the boundary of a warm front, where warm, moist air is forced up over cold air. This movement produces clouds as the moist air is cooled across the entire front. The presence of stratus clouds usually means a chilly, overcast day. If precipitation falls from stratus clouds, it is usually in the form of drizzle or light snow.
100
High clouds: 7-18km Cold: less than 25oC & made up of ice crystals
What are Cirrus Clouds The prefix "cirro-" refers to clouds that lie more than 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) above the Earth. Cirrocumulus and cirrostratus clouds are two examples of these “high-level” clouds.
200
How many types of cloud produce precipitation?
two Nimbostratus clouds bring continuous precipitation that can last for many hours. These low-level clouds are full of moisture. Cumulonimbus clouds are also called thunderheads. Thunderheads produce rain, thunder, and lightning. Many cumulonimbus clouds occur along cold fronts, where cool air is forced under warm air. They usually shrink as evening approaches, and moisture in the air evaporates. Cumulonimbus clouds gradually become stratocumulus clouds, which rarely produce rain.
200
Very high clouds could be in layers called ????????????
CIRROSTRATUS The prefix "cirro-" refers to clouds that lie more than 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) above the Earth. Cirrocumulus and cirrostratus clouds are two examples of these “high-level” clouds.
200
More vertical, but localized, uplift results in heaped ??????? clouds with flat bases and globular upper surfaces.
Cumulus Cumulus clouds are large and lumpy. Their name comes from the Latin word meaning "heap" or "pile." They can stretch vertically into the atmosphere up to 12,000 meters (39,000 feet) high. Cumulus clouds are created by strong updrafts of warm, moist air. Most forms of heavy precipitation fall from cumulus clouds. The weather they bring depends on their height and size. The higher the base of a cloud is, the drier the atmosphere and the fairer the weather will be. Clouds located close to the ground mean heavy snow or rain.
200
most prominent during the summer months.
What are Cumulus Clouds
200
delicate clouds appearing in bands or ripples across the sky. They are one of the least common of the cloud types.
What are Cirrocumulus Clouds
300
created when air is forced up rapidly and rise higher
what are Cumulus clouds Cumulus clouds are large and lumpy. Their name comes from the Latin word meaning "heap" or "pile." They can stretch vertically into the atmosphere up to 12,000 meters (39,000 feet) high. Cumulus clouds are created by strong updrafts of warm, moist air. Most forms of heavy precipitation fall from cumulus clouds. The weather they bring depends on their height and size. The higher the base of a cloud is, the drier the atmosphere and the fairer the weather will be. Clouds located close to the ground mean heavy snow or rain.
300
Middle level cloud is prefixed by '????'.
ALTO The prefix "alto-" indicates clouds whose bases are between 2,000 and 6,000 meters (6,500-20,000 feet) above the Earth, such as altocumulus and altostratus clouds. They are considered "mid-level" clouds and are mostly made of liquid water droplets, but can have some ice crystals in cold enough temperatures.
300
Where condensation occurs at very high levels, wispy ?????? clouds are formed( made of crystals).
Cirrus Cirrus clouds are wispy, curly, or stringy. They are found high in the atmosphere—typically higher than 6,000 meters (20,000 feet)—and are usually made of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds usually signal clear, fair weather. Their shape often indicates the direction the wind is blowing high in the atmosphere.
300
clouds which are formed by ice crystals.
What are Cirrus Clouds
300
The presence of ____________________ clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day.
What are Alto-Cumulus Clouds
400
What are the three types of clouds?
Stratus, cumulus, cirrus
400
How do we call the biggest cloud?
Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus clouds are also called thunderheads. Thunderheads produce rain, thunder, and lightning. Many cumulonimbus clouds occur along cold fronts, where cool air is forced under warm air. They usually shrink as evening approaches, and moisture in the air evaporates. Cumulonimbus clouds gradually become stratocumulus clouds, which rarely produce rain.
400
water vapor condenses on some form of particulate matter
What is condensation nuclei
400
formed when air is forced up slowly.
What are Stratus Clouds
400
thin, layered clouds that are blue-gray or whitish in color and often cover large portions of the sky.
What are Altostratus Clouds
500
According what clouds classified into three main types?
Their shapes
500
often associated with steady precipitation
Nimbostratus Nimbostratus clouds bring continuous precipitation that can last for many hours. These low-level clouds are full of moisture. Certain types of clouds produce precipitation. Clouds also produce the bolt of electricity called lightning and the sound of thunder that accompanies it. Lightning is formed in a cloud when positively charged particles and negatively charged particles are separated, forming an electrical field. When the electrical field is strong enough, it discharges a superheated bolt of lightning to the Earth. Most of what we consider to be single lightning strikes are in fact three or four separate strokes of lightning. The sound of thunder is actually the sonic shock wave that comes when the air, heated by the lightning bolt, expands very rapidly. Thunder sometimes sounds like it comes in waves because of the time it takes the sound to travel. Because the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, lightning will always appear before its thunder is heard.
500
this type of air mass resists upward movement
What is stable air mass
500
5 criteria for identifying clouds
1. The altitude at which they occur ? 2. Color? 3. Density ? 4. Shape? 5. Degree of cover.
500
groups of dense, puffy clouds that cover the sky in dark heavy masses, long and gray
What are Stratocumulus Clouds