The Water Cycle AND Cloud Types

Water Cycle Information Water cycle (hydrologic cycle): the continuous movement of water between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The sun provides the energy for the water cycle.

Water evaporates from lake, streams, and oceans. Evaporation Evaporation: due to the sun’s radiation, the process of water changing from a liquid state to a gas called water vapor is known as evaporation. Water evaporates from lake, streams, and oceans. cloud Ocean

When water vapor condenses, it forms clouds. Condensation Condensation: As water vapor rises in the atmosphere and cools enough, it changes back into a liquid. This process of water vapor changing to a liquid is called condensation. When water vapor condenses, it forms clouds. Condensation Evaporation

Rain, sleet, snow, and hail are forms of precipitation. Precipitation: Clouds are made up of millions of tiny water droplets that collide and form larger droplets. As the droplets grow larger, it can no longer be kept in the clouds, and drops of water fall to Earth. The moisture that falls from clouds is called precipitation. Rain, sleet, snow, and hail are forms of precipitation.

Clouds

Clouds are classified mainly by shape and height (altitude) What is cloud(s)? Cloud: is a visible collection of a large number of tiny water droplets or ice particles being carried by current of air. Clouds are indicator of approaching weather. All cloud contains water vapor. Clouds are classified mainly by shape and height (altitude) Vocabulary: *Relative humidity: is a measure of the amount of water vapor that air is holding compared to the amount it can hold at a specific temperature. *Saturated: when air contains as much moisture as possible at a specific temperature. *Dew point: The temperature at which air is saturated and condensation take place.

Cloud As the air cools, the amount of water vapor needed for saturation decreases and the relative humidity increases. When the relative humidity reaches 100%, it’s saturated and the water vapor begins to condenses. Clouds form when moist air is pushed high enough to reach its dew point. The water vapor condenses, forming water droplets that group together. There are 3 formations of cloud: *forms when warm air is forced up *forms when warm, moist air is forced to rise over a mountain *forms when two air masses meet (warmer air is forced up over the cold air)

Locations of clouds Cirro-high clouds Stratus-spread out Low-level clouds: (generally found below 6,500 feet, or 2,000 meters) Low-level clouds are usually composed of liquid water droplets, but they can have snow and ice crystals in cold weather. Mid-level clouds: (generally found between 6,500 and 23,000 feet, or 2,000 and 7,000 meters) Most mid-level clouds are composed of liquid water droplets during summer and a liquid droplet-ice crystal mix during winter. High-level clouds: (generally found above 20,000 feet, or 6,000 meters) High-level clouds are composed of ice crystals and tend to be very thin and wispy. Cirro-high clouds Stratus-spread out Alto-middle elevation Cumulus-heap or pile Nimbus-precipitating Cirrus-fibrous or curly

3 Main Types of Clouds Stratus: Comes from the Latin word “spread out” Layers of smooth, even sheets (low altitude), dull, gray blanket. Fog occurs when air cools below dew point temperature. *Weather & precipitation Cumulus: Comes from the Latin word for “heap or pile”. Masses of white puffy white clouds with flat bases. Forms when air current rises. *Weather & thunderstorm Cirrus: Comes from the Latin word “tuft or curl of hair”. High thin, white, feathery clouds (fibrous or curly). *Fine weather & approaching storms

Cloud Types Cumulus Cirrus Stratus