Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School

Cloud Types 1)To identify clouds, you need to study their shape. 2)You also need to know the height of the clouds. There are three categories of heights: Cloud GroupCloud HeightCloud Types High clouds = cirrusAbove 18,000 ftCirrus Cirrostratus Cirrocumulus Middle clouds = Alto6,500 feet to 18,000 feetAltostratus Altocumulus Low clouds = stratusUp to 6,500 feetStratus Stratocumulus Nimbostratus Clouds with vertical growth variedCumulus Cumulonimbus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Basic Cloud Shapes 1.Cumulus: puffy; looks like spoonfuls of marshmallow cream or cool whip 2.Stratus: spread out, flat; like a sheet 3.Cirrus: long, thin, wispy clouds; like cotton candy that has been pulled apart ***** Nimbus: clouds defined more by their behavior than their shape- “rain clouds”, can be either cumulus (puffy) or stratus (flat).

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Names of Clouds Names of specific types of clouds are created by combining the name of the cloud's shape with the name of the cloud's height.

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Cumulus Clouds Fluffy and white with flat bottoms Usually fair weather clouds, but if they get larger and darker on the bottom they can produce thunderstorms Can form at almost any altitude

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Stratus Clouds Smooth, gray clouds that cover the whole sky (block out direct sunlight) Low clouds (0-6,500 ft) Form flat layers or ‘sheets’ Can bring light rain/drizzles Fog is actually a low stratus cloud

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Cirrus Clouds Thin, wispy, or feathery in appearance High in the sky (18,000 ft. and above) Made up of ice crystals Usually signify a change in weather is coming sometimes called “mare's tails”

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Cirrostratus Clouds High in the sky (18,000 ft. and above) Flat, sheet-like, hazy clouds composed of ice crystals Can cover the entire sky and be up to several thousand feet thick, but are relatively transparent (the sun or the moon can easily be seen through them) ‘Halos often form around the sun or moon. Halos result from the bending of light by the cloud's ice crystals Indicate a significant amount of moisture in the higher levels of the atmosphere. Often signifies change in weather.

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Cirrocumulus Clouds High in the sky (18,000 ft. and above) Look like small white puff balls high in the sky. The puff balls can occur individually or as long rows. When the puffs are in rows they give the cloud a rippling appearance that resembles the scales on a fish. May signify that precipitation is on its way. It can be difficult to tell cirrocumulus from altocumulus. Cirrocumulus are not shaded and because they are so much higher, the cloudlets of cirrocumulus are much smaller than those of altocumulus.

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Altostratus Clouds middle clouds (6,500 feet to 18,000 feet) Has a gray or blue-gray appearance which totally or partially cover the sky Altostratus clouds are more dense than cirrostratus. They are so thick that the sun is only dimly visible- like looking through frosted glass. Where enough light shows through cirrostratus clouds create shadows; it does not with altostratus. Altostratus clouds are likely to bring precipitation

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Altocumulus Clouds middle clouds (6,500 feet to 18,000 feet) Sometimes resembles ‘fish scales’ Dark, shadowed undersides Consist of roll-like patches or puffs that often form waves or parallel bands They are distinguished from cirrocumulus by the larger size of the clouds and by the sharper edges

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Nimbostratus Clouds Low clouds (0-6,500 ft) Nimbus means rain, and stratus means sheet, so nimbostratus is a sheet cloud from which rain or snow is falling - usually continuously. Less uniform that stratus clouds, with a more ragged base Often brings steady rainfall

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Stratocumulus Clouds Low clouds (up to 6,500 ft) consist of large irregular puffs or rolls separated by areas of clear sky Stratocumulus means sheets of lumpy cloud. Usually only drizzles or light precipitation fall from it. may indicate that worse weather is on its way, or is just clearing.

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Cumulonimbus Clouds Cumulus clouds that grow upwards dramatically Winds will shear the tops off as the mass builds into the stratosphere, creating towering clouds with an anvil head on top. The direction of the shear can tell you which way the storm is moving. These clouds are sometimes referred to as "thunderheads". They can produce heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and sometimes hail. They occur chiefly in summer.

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 1 Is this… a)Cumulus b)Stratus c)Cirrus d)Cumulonimbus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 2 Is this… a)Cumulus b)Stratus c)Cirrus d)Cumulonimbus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 3 Is this… a)Cumulus b)Stratus c)Cirrus d)Cumulonimbus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 4 Is this… a)Cumulus b)Stratus c)Cirrus d)Cumulonimbus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 5 Is this… a)Altostratus b)Altocumulus c)Nimbostratus d)Stratocumulus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 6 Is this… a)Stratocumulus b)Altocumulus c)Nimbostratus d)Cirrostratus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 7 Is this… a)Stratocumulus b)Altocumulus c)Nimbostratus d) Cirrostratus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 8 Is this… a) Stratocumulus b) Altocumulus c) Cirrocumulus d) Cirrostratus

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Is this… a) Stratocumulus b) Altocumulus c) Nimbostratus d) Cirrostratus Picture 9

Mrs. Nell- Roosevelt Middle School Can You Identify the Cloud Type? Picture 10 Is this… a) Stratocumulus b) Altocumulus c) Nimbostratus d) Cirrostratus