Clouds

Learning Goals Identify the types of clouds by name and appearance Understand the different types of weather associated with each cloud Create a project on clouds

Project You will create a large 3-part poster. It will include definitions, descriptions and pictures of the cloud types.

Cirrus Stratus Cumulus Types of Clouds Cirrus Stratus Cumulus

Cirrus Cirrus clouds are usually the highest clouds. They are thin, feathery clouds made of tiny ice drops. Cirrus clouds sometimes look like horse’s tails because they are curly and wispy. They are thin enough to see through. Cirrus clouds usually mean fair weather, but if they build up over time and are followed by stratus clouds, they can mean a warm front is coming with stormy weather.

Cirrus

Stratus Stratus clouds spread like gray sheets across the sky. They are flat and can be thick or thin. They look like a layer of blankets. They can be high or low in the sky. Rain or snow can fall from stratus clouds.

Stratus

Cumulus Cumulus clouds are puffy and look like cotton balls. They are fluffy on top and flat on the bottom. They resemble cauliflower. They are usually low in the sky. Sometime they pile up like pillows and climb to 35,000 feet or more. That height, about seven miles above the Earth, is were many jet airliners fly. Cumulus clouds that are small and white bring good weather.

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus Sometimes cumulus clouds grow bigger and taller. They may become dark. These cumulus clouds are known as cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds bring thunderstorms. The word nimbus comes from a Latin word that means rain or rain storm.

Cumulonimbus

Naming convention for clouds The names for clouds are combinations of the following prefixes or suffixes: Stratus/strato = flat/layered and smooth Cumulus/cumulo = heaped up/puffy, like cauliflower Cirrus/cirro = High up/wispy Alto = Medium level Nimbus/Nimbo = Rain-bearing cloud

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV6wHW_D5U

Question: What type of clouds are puffy and look like cotton balls, and usually mean good weather?

Answer: Cumulus

Question: What type of clouds are associated with rain or snow and spread like gray sheets across the sky?

Answer: Stratus

Question: What type of clouds are thin and wispy and are formed at very high altitudes?

Answer: Cirrus

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uFVssBs6E&nohtml5=False

Project Use a white or blue background and fold into three equal sections Label three sections Use cotton balls to make the clouds Include a definition and weather description with each cloud type Add a picture to go with each cloud type

Divide your chart into three sections: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/evscps.sci.life.clouds/clouds-and-weather/ (to view the video you will have to scroll down) Divide your chart into three sections: Name of cloud Picture and write-up