1. Up in the clouds …

2. How are clouds formed? Warm moist air rises because it is less dense. As it rises it cools and becomes more dense so it can’t hold as much water vapor. Eventually the air reaches dew point when it is completely full or saturated with water vapor. At dew point, the water vapor condenses on particles in the air into water droplets to form clouds.

3. Important Prefixes Alto = Middle Strato = Low Cirro = High Nimbus or Nimbo = Precipitation

4. Main Types of Clouds Stratus Clouds Form in flat layers Strato means “spread out” Usually cover all or most of the sky Dull, gray color As stratus clouds thicken, they may produce drizzle, rain, or snow. These clouds are nimbostratus clouds.

5. Main Types of Clouds Cumulus Clouds Looks like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton Cumulus means “heap” or “mass” Usually indicates good weather Cumulonimbus clouds are towering clouds with flat tops. They bring thunderstorms.

6. Main Types of Clouds Cirrus Clouds Wispy, feathery clouds Cirrus means “curl of hair” Form at high levels Made of ice crystals Cirrocumulus clouds usually mean a storm is coming.

7. Stratus Cloud (Form in flat layers, uniform and gray)

8. Altostratus Cloud (middle level)

9. Nimbostratus Cloud (Thicker Layers) Brings drizzle, rain, or snow.

10. Fog (Ground Level)

11. Cumulus Cloud (Fluffy, piles of cotton) Nice weather

12. Altocumulus Cloud (Middle Level)

13. Cumulonimbus Cloud (Towering with flat tops) Thunderstorms

14. Cirrus Cloud (High clouds) Winds

15. Cirrocumulus Cloud (Rows of cotton) Approaching storm