1. Alison Suranovic and Hope Stebelton
Cloud Comparison
Alison Suranovic and Hope Stebelton

2. What are clouds…?
Very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals that have gathered in a large collection.
The bundles of droplets are so small and light that they can float.
Clouds appear white because they reflect light from the sun.

3. How are clouds formed…? All air contains water
The air near the ground is usually made up of an invisible gas called water vapor.
As warm air rises, it expands and cools. Cooler air is not able to hold as much water vapor as warm air, so much of this vapor condenses onto tiny pieces of dust floating in the air.
This forms a tiny droplet around each dust particle.
When billions and billions of these droplets come together they form a visible cloud.

4. Types of clouds…
Cirrus
Stratus
Nimbus
Cumulus

5. Cirrus •Most common high clouds made up of ice
• Commonly white and predict fair weather
• Thin, wispy clouds that form long streamers when blown by high winds.
• Cirrus clouds most commonly indicate a change in the weather that will take place within 24 hours
Cirrus

6. Stratus Grayish colored clouds Often cover the entire sky
Look much like fog in the sky
Light mist sometimes falls from these clouds

7. Nimbus
Most often a dark gray color because of all the stored water droplets
Water droplets come down in the form of precipitation, which could be rain, snow, hail, or sleet
Usually predict thunderstorms

8. Cumulus White, puffy clouds (look like cotton)
Often predict fair weather
The base of the each cloud is flat, while the top has rounded towers
Can develop into thunderstorm clouds