Identifying Clouds and Precipitation

The Three Main Types of Clouds Click on the picture of each cloud to learn more about them. Cirrus Cumulus Stratus

Rain Clouds Nimbo/Nimbus means rain. Any clouds with this in their name brings rain Click on the picture of each cloud to learn more about them. Cumulonimbus Nimbostratus

Stratus Clouds Stratus clouds are the lowest clouds in the sky. They often form a blanket like layer and are the cause for overcast cloudy days. Stratus clouds form during calm weather. Watch a video and learn more.

Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are medium level puffy clouds that form on warm sunny days. They form from warm air rising at different places and rising at different speeds. This is why they are so spread out. The sun’s heat causes these conditions so that Is why you always see them on warm sunny days. These clouds have a flat bottom and grow vertically. (Up and Down) Watch a video and learn more.

Cirrus Clouds Cirrus clouds very high in the sky. It is so cold Where they form they are made up of ice crystals. The ice crystals give Cirrus clouds a wispy feather like appearance Cirrus clouds often lead in warmer weather and rain. Watch a video and learn more.

Nimbostratus Clouds Nimbostratus Clouds form a blanket layer like stratus clouds. Nimbostratus also develop from calmer weather conditions. Wind and lightning do not accompany these clouds. Nimbostratus are in the sky during all day steady rain and drizzle. Research shows these clouds are most likely to bum you out.

Cumulonimbus Clouds Cumulonimbus are nasty clouds! These clouds have very high vertical development. These clouds are associated with: Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornadoes and Hail.

Guess Which Cloud it is Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus, Cumulonimbus, Nimbostratus Read the description, Make your guess and click the description to see the correct answer. 1. Clouds that form a blanket like layer and cause for overcast cloudy days. 2. The ice crystals give these clouds a wispy feather like appearance 3. Clouds in the sky during all day steady rain and drizzle. 4. Theses clouds are medium level puffy clouds that form on warm sunny days. 5. These clouds have very high vertical development. 6. These clouds are the lowest in the sky. 7. Clouds associated with: Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornadoes and Hail.

How Do Clouds Form? Clouds form when water vapor is warmed by the sun and rises high in the sky. Eventually the water vapor becomes cold and condenses on dust particles to form drops of water. These water droplets are kept up in the air because they are very light and rising air keeps them floating. What is the energy source that fuels cloud formation?

What Makes Clouds Look So Different Clouds are a great way to predict weather because their shape can Tell you what the current conditions are in the atmosphere. Some clouds form because a lot of heat is causing air and water vapor to rise rapidly. Other clouds form because things are cool and calm. Some clouds can be predictors or rain or thunderstorms. Clouds look different because they form different shapes based on the weather. Do you remember the shapes of clouds During a time it was: Warm and pleasant, Cold and rainy Before a thunderstorm ?

Important Questions to Check Your Understanding Click on NY (not yet) if you need to review that concept Can you describe how clouds form? NY Can you explain why clouds look different? NY Can you name and describe the characteristics of the three main cloud types? NY Can you identify and describe the 2 types of rain clouds? NY

How Do Clouds Form? Clouds form when water vapor is warmed by the sun and rises high in the sky. Eventually the water vapor becomes cold and condenses on dust particles to form drops of water. These water droplets are kept up in the air because they are very light and rising air keeps them floating. What is the energy source that fuels cloud formation?

The Three Main Types of Clouds Click on the picture of each cloud to learn more about them. Cirrus Cumulus Stratus

Stratus Clouds Stratus clouds are the lowest clouds in the sky. They often form a blanket like layer and are the cause for overcast cloudy days. Stratus clouds form during calm weather.

Rain Clouds Nimbo/Nimbus means rain. Any clouds with this in their name brings rain Click on the picture of each cloud to learn more about them. Cumulonimbus Nimbostratus

Nimbostratus Clouds Nimbostratus Clouds form a blanket layer like stratus clouds. Nimbostratus also develop from calmer weather conditions. Wind and lightning do not accompany these clouds. Nimbostratus are in the sky during all day steady rain and drizzle. Research shows these clouds are most likely to bum you out.

Cirrus Clouds Cirrus clouds very high in the sky. It is so cold Where they form they are made up of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds often lead in warmer weather and rain. The ice crystals give Cirrus clouds a wispy feather like appearance

Cumulonimbus Clouds Cumulonimbus are nasty clouds! These clouds have very high vertical development. These clouds are associated with: Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornadoes and Hail.

Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are medium level puffy clouds that form on warm sunny days. They form from warm air rising at different places and rising at different speeds. This is why they are so spread out. The sun’s heat causes these conditions so that Is why you always see them on warm sunny days. These clouds have a flat bottom and grow vertically. (Up and Down)

The Different Forms of Precipitation We know that precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky. The question is what conditions cause it to Rain, Sleet, Snow and Hail. We know that clouds form based on the weather conditions and precipitation comes from clouds. So the type of precipitation is also Caused by the conditions at that time. Click on the picture of each type of precipitation to learn more about it. Rain Hail Freezing Rain Snow

Rain Rain forms when the temperature is above the freezing point of water. Warm air causes water vapor to rise. When it reaches cold air at higher altitudes it condenses on pieces of dust. These water droplets Float around and combine with each other until they Form a large rain drop and fall from the sky. Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops fall through the warm air Watch a video and learn more.

Hail Watch a video and learn more. -Hail forms in Cumulonimbus clouds. -Hail happens during severe Thunderstorms Cumulonimbus clouds with very high vertical development create strong updrafts. (An updraft is wind that blows up) rain is blown high in the sky where it freezes. It falls down where more water droplets collect. Updrafts blow the hail back up to high altitudes again where the newly collected water droplets freeze making another layer on the hailstone. This process happens until the hailstone is too heavy for the updrafts to lift. Storms with very strong winds equal very large hail Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops freeze into ice Updrafts lift ice back into cloud More water droplets collect on ice crystal (This process repeats until the hail is heavy enough to fall.) The hail falls to the ground through warm air Watch a video and learn more.

Freezing Rain Watch a video and learn more. Warm Air Freezing rain forms when warm air is climbing over freezing air. Rain forms in the warm air above And falls though the freezing air. As the freezing water drops hit The ground they immediately Form sheets of ice. Freezing Air Watch a video and learn more. Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops fall through the freezing air Freezing rain drops hit the cold ground and turn into ice

Snow Snow forms when the air is below freezing. Water droplets freeze into crystals of ice. Snow flakes are formed when: Water vapor condenses and freezes on these ice crystals. or Water vapor changes directly into ice crystals. These ice crystals grow until snowflakes are made and fall from the sky. Snowflakes fall through a cold ground temperature. Watch a video and learn more. Keys to formation Water vapor freezes into ice More water freezes around ice or changes directly into ice crystals Ice Crystals grow larger Snowflakes form and fall through a cold ground temperature

Guess That Precipitation Read each description and identify the precipitation type? Click on the description to see the answer 1. Water is blown to high altitude where it freezes and falls as ice. 2. Water droplets condense in warm air and fall through freezing air. 3. Water droplets join together and fall through warm air as water. 4. Water vapor changes into ice crystals

Rain Rain forms when the temperature is above the freezing point of water. Warm air causes water vapor to rise. When it reaches cold air at higher altitudes it condenses on pieces of dust. These water droplets Float around and combine with each other until they Form a large rain drop and fall from the sky. Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops fall through the warm air Watch a video and learn more.

Hail Watch a video and learn more. -Hail forms in Cumulonimbus clouds. -Hail happens during severe Thunderstorms Cumulonimbus clouds with very high vertical development create strong updrafts. (An updraft is wind that blows up) rain is blown high in the sky where it freezes. It falls down where more water droplets collect. Updrafts blow the hail back up to high altitudes again where the newly collected water droplets freeze making another layer on the hailstone. This process happens until the hailstone is too heavy for the updrafts to lift. Storms with very strong winds equal very large hail Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops freeze into ice Updrafts lift ice back into cloud More water droplets collect on ice crystal (This process repeats until the hail is heavy enough to fall.) The hail falls to the ground through warm air Watch a video and learn more.

Freezing Rain Sleet Watch a video and learn more. Warm Air Freezing forms when warm air is climbing over freezing air. Rain forms in the warm air above And falls though the freezing air. As the freezing water drops hit The ground they immediately Form sheets of ice. Freezing Air Watch a video and learn more. Keys to formation Water vapor condenses around dust Droplets join together into rain drops Rain drops fall through the freezing air Freezing rain drops hit the cold ground and turn into ice

Snow Snow forms when the air is below freezing. Water droplets freeze into crystals of ice. Snow flakes are formed when: Water vapor condenses and freezes on these ice crystals. or Water vapor changes directly into ice crystals. These ice crystals grow until snowflakes are made and fall from the sky. Snowflakes fall through a cold ground temperature. Keys to formation Water vapor freezes into ice More water freezes around ice or changes directly into ice crystals Ice Crystals grow larger Snowflakes form and fall through a cold ground temperature Watch a video and learn more.

Rain Gauge Scientists use a Rain Gauge to capture rainfall And get an accurate reading of how much rain has fallen over a period of time. Watch a video and learn more.

Important Questions to Check Your Understanding Are you able to define Precipitation? Can you name and describe the 4 types of precipitation? Are you able to identify the conditions that cause each form of precipitation?