Clouds and Weather Prediction

In this activity you will: Learn about the types of clouds, how they are formed, and the weather each might predict. Illustrate four common cloud types.

Clouds are formed as part of the water cycle

What are clouds? How are they made? NOVA How are they made? NOVA How are they made? NOVA A cloud is made up of tiny water droplets and/or ice crystals, a snowflake is a collection of many ice crystals, and rain is just liquid water.

Cloud Types Names of specific types of clouds are created by combining the name of the cloud's shape with its height.

Cloud Types The presence of clouds in the sky is one type of signal to meteorologists that there will be changes in the weather. Predicting the weather requires the understanding of the different types of clouds.

Cloud Formation Clouds form when solar heating of the earth’s surface warms the air near the ground. This air begins to rise and it expands and cools. Water vapor then condenses on small dust particles suspended in the air and these combine to form clouds.

Cloud Formation Why are there so many different types of clouds? Why are there so many different types of clouds? Why are there so many different types of clouds? The type of cloud created is determined by how fast the air rises.

Clouds There are 3 main types of clouds: Cumulus or fluffy clouds form when air is forced up rapidly and therefore rises higher. Cumulus

Clouds Stratus clouds are layered clouds that form when air that is forced up slowly. Stratus

Clouds Cirrus clouds are thin feathery clouds. Cirrus

For Fun Top Ten Rare Cloud Types

There are three categories of cloud heights: High Clouds = CirrusHigh Clouds = Cirrus Middle Clouds = Alto Low Clouds = Stratus

High Clouds: Cirrus Cirrus clouds are made of ice crystals and are high and wispy. They can be divided into cirrostratus and cirrocumulus clouds.

High Clouds:Cirrus High Clouds: Cirrus Cirrus generally occur in fair weather and point in the direction of air movement at their elevation.

Cirrus Cirrus clouds are usually the first sign of an approaching storm.

High Clouds = Cirrus Types: Cirrus Cirrostratus Cirrocumulus

Cirrus

Middle Clouds: Alto Altostratus Altocumulus

Middle Clouds:Altocumulus Middle Clouds: Altocumulus Altocumulus clouds usually form from the gradual lifting of air in advance of a cold front.

Middle Clouds: Altocumulus The presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day.

An altostratus cloud usually forms ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow. Occasionally, rain will fall from an altostratus cloud. rainsnow

Low Clouds: Stratus Stratus Stratocumulus Nimbostratus

Low Level Stratus Clouds Low clouds are of mostly composed of water droplets. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow.

Low Clouds: Stratus Stratus clouds resemble fog, but they do not reach the ground. They often produce mist or drizzle.

Low Level Stratus Clouds

Only light precipitation, generally in the form of drizzle, occurs with stratocumulus clouds. To distinguish between a stratocumulus and an altocumulus cloud, point your hand toward the cloud. If the cloud is about the size of your fist, then it is stratocumulus precipitationaltocumulus

Nimbostratus They are dark gray with a ragged base. Nimbostratus clouds are associated with continuous rain or snow. Sometimes they cover the whole sky and you can't see the edges of the cloudrainsnow

Vertically Developed Clouds Fair weather cumulus have the appearance of floating cotton and have a lifetime of 5-40 minutes. The cloud tops designate the limit of the rising air.

Vertically Developed Clouds Harmless fair weather cumulus can later develop into towering cumulonimbus clouds associated with powerful thunderstorms.

Nimbus Clouds Nimbus clouds are clouds that produce precipitation. Nimbo or nimbus might be used with cumulus or stratus to indicate a cloud formation that is producing rain.

Cumulonimbus and Nimbostratus A nimbostratus cloud is a stratus cloud with precipitation and a cumulonimbus cloud is a cumulus cloud with precipitation.

Cumulonimbus Clouds Cumulonimbus clouds are the "thunderheads" that can be seen on a warm summer day and can bring strong winds, hail, and rain.

Nimbostratus Nimbostratus are dark, low-level clouds accompanied by light to moderately falling precipitation.

Nimbostratus Nimbostratus clouds will bring a long steady rain. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow.

Nimbostratus

Stratocumulus Clouds Stratocumulus clouds generally appear as a low, lumpy layer of clouds that is sometimes accompanied by weak intensity precipitation.

Stratocumulus

Weather Predictors Clouds, in many cases, foreshadow incoming weather and assist in forecasting.

Four Types of Clouds GO Given the blue paper and a small piece of white chalk, you are to draw each of the following types of clouds: cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and cumulonimbus Divide your paper into four equal parts along. Fold into fourths. Turn down the center corner of your page so that when you open up the page you have created a graphic organizer that now has a diamond in its center. Write Cloud Types in this center diamond. Label one corner cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and cumulonimbus. In the appropriate box illustrate each type of cloud using your piece of chalk.

Summarizer Using the descriptions given, write the name of the cloud type, a description of the cloud, and the kind of weather associated with each one. (wkst 98)