Cloud Types 18.3 Brain Pop: Clouds

18.3 Types of Clouds Clouds are classified based on how they formed and their height 3 basic forms…

Cirrus: (= a curl of hair) Thin, white, wispy, feathery Made from ice crystals at high altitudes Seen in fair weather, but can mean rain or snow is coming

Cumulus: (= a pile) Rounded, thick, puffy masses Formed by vertically rising air currents Usually mean fair weather

Layered, gray, and smooth Stratus: (= a layer) Layered, gray, and smooth Form in sheets at low altitudes Block out sunlight - associated with rain

3 levels of height  can have seasonal and latitudinal variation

Cirrostratus halo around the sun Cirrus cirrocumulus High Clouds: (above 6000 meters) Cirrostratus halo around the sun cirrostratus

altocumulus Middle Clouds: (2000-6000 meters) altostratus

Low Clouds: (below 2000 meters) Stratus stratocumulus Low Clouds: (below 2000 meters) nimbostratus

Clouds of vertical development: (start at 2000 meters – mid/high) cumulonimbus Clouds of vertical development: (start at 2000 meters – mid/high)

Fog: A cloud with its base at or very near the ground The only difference between clouds and fog is their method and place of formation.

Fogs caused by cooling Ex: coastal California Fog forms when warm oceanic air moves over a cold water current, then wind blows it over land Ex: coastal California

OR fog forms over land as air temperature near the ground drops overnight and reaches the dew point in the early morning

Fogs caused by evaporation Fog forms over water when water temperatures are still warm, but air temperatures have fallen rapidly Fall and early winter