Mr. Deakin - CLOUDS terms, naming, and types

Mr. Deakin - CLOUD ALTITUDES n Low-level clouds are found below 2 km n Mid-level clouds are situated from 2 to 6 km high & have an alto_ prefix n High-level clouds are above 6 km in altitude

Mr. Deakin - CLOUD SHAPES n Cumulus clouds are found at all- levels and have a puffy or billowy appearance n Stratus clouds are featureless, sheet-like clouds n Cirrus is a term for delicate-looking, high altitude clouds made of ice crystals

Mr. Deakin - Cumulus Clouds These clouds can be found at any altitude

Mr. Deakin - Stratus Clouds Seen from the ground level As seen from above

Mr. Deakin - Cirrus Clouds These clouds have been likened to horse tails

Mr. Deakin - CLOUD NAMES n Clouds that carry rain or snow have the word nimbus somewhere in their name n Altitude, precipitation, and shape terms are combined to name clouds

Mr. Deakin - CLOUD TYPES

Mr. Deakin - Precipitation Clouds n Cumulonimbus clouds are storm clouds which extend high into the atmosphere (up to 20 km)

Mr. Deakin - Precipitation Clouds n Nimbostratus clouds are grey, unbroken, featureless, rain- containing clouds n Responsible for steady gentle rain

Mr. Deakin - Altostratus Clouds n Featureless clouds that completely or partially block out the sun n Differ from Nimbostratus clouds in two main ways… n Do not contain the word nimbo n Are found at a higher altitude

Mr. Deakin - Cirrostratus Clouds n They have a more continuous appearance than the other high altitude clouds n They are composed almost entirely of ice crystals and often blanket large areas of the sky n They are typically so thin that you can easily see the sun or even the moon through them n Halos and other related phenomenon are caused by these clouds

Mr. Deakin - Halos n Halos occur around the sun or moon n Halos are caused by refraction of light by randomly oriented pyramidal ice crystals

Mr. Deakin - Altocumulus Clouds n Are detailed, mid- level cumulus clouds n Consist of supercooled and frozen particles n Are usually thin (less than 100m thick)

Mr. Deakin - Cirrocumulus Clouds n How do these clouds differ from altocumulus clouds?

Mr. Deakin - Stratocumulus Clouds n Are low-level clouds n Have a distinguishable feature

Mr. Deakin - Cloud Types Quiz n How many of the 8 clouds can you name?

Mr. Deakin - Cloud Types Quiz n This picture shows two distinct types of clouds. Can you name each type? altocumulus cumulus

Mr. Deakin - CLOUD TYPES