1. Clouds
6th Grade Science

2. Clouds
Water from the earth’s surface moves into the air by EVAPORATION and becomes WATER VAPOR.
Clouds are formed when rising air is cooled and the water vapor condenses on particles in the air and forms tiny water droplets.
The temperature at which condensation occurs is called dew point.
Sunlight reflected on the water droplets allow us to see the clouds
What is in the clouds: 1. Salt: ocean water 2. Dust: rock particles, meteor dust 3. Smoke: burning fossil fuels, volcanic activity 4. Pollution
Brainpop: clouds

3. How Clouds Form
Clouds form when warm, moist air rises and cools. Water vapor condenses on tiny particles to form liquid water or ice crystals.

4. How Air Rises
Sunshine – heat from the sun or warm ground warms the air and makes it lighter.
The terrain – air may rise as it is forced upwards due to changes in the terrain (landscape).
A front – air can also rise at a weather front. At cold fronts, cold air is pushed under warm air, forcing it upwards and at a warm front, warm moist air is forced up and over the cold air.

5. Thunderstorm Formation
Moisture - to form clouds and rain.
Unstable Air - relatively warm air that can rise rapidly.
Lift - fronts, sea breezes and mountains are capable of lifting air to help form thunderstorms.

6. Water Droplets
Droplets come in many sizes. A raindrop has about one million times as much water in it as a cloud droplet.

7. Clouds are classified by shape and by altitude (how high they are)

8. Clouds are formed by the condensation of water in the atmosphere.
Certain types of clouds are associated with specific weather conditions.
Air movement causes clouds to take different shapes, forms, and designs.

10. Cloud Types
The speed and direction of movement of clouds are determined by the wind.
Large fluffy clouds are formed when air moves vertically.
Layered cloud shapes are formed when air moves horizontally.

11. Notes Title your notebook page CLOUDS.
Enter the page into your Table of Contents.
On a piece of notebook paper copy down anything that is in purple.
Also copy the cloud symbol
You will use these notes for an assignment so pay attention!!

12. Cumulus (vertical forming)
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”) refers to piled-up clouds.
Fair-weather clouds
Common on sunny days

13. Cumulonimbus (thunderhead) vertically forming
Nimbo (means "rain") indicates that the cloud can produce precipitation (rain, snow, or other forms of falling water).
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”) refers to piled-up clouds.
Dark storm clouds, produce rain
Anvil, column- shaped
Associated with thunderstorms

14. Stratus (low)
Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”) refers to flat, wide, layered clouds.
Smooth layers of low clouds.
They are the light grey clouds that give winter skies a dull grey color.
Usually associated with moist weather- drizzle, rain, snow, or small ice particles
Low, flat, & grey
Called fog when it touches the ground

15. A stratus cloud in contact with the ground.
FOG
A stratus cloud in contact with the ground.

16. Nimbostratus (low)
Nimbo (means "rain") indicates that the cloud can produce precipitation (rain, snow, or other forms of falling water).
Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”) refers to flat, wide, layered clouds.
Smooth layers of dark, grey clouds
Usually bring steady continuous rain or snow.
These clouds are thick enough to blot out the sunlight.
They are shapeless with irregular edges.

17. Stratocumulus (low)
Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”) refers to flat, wide, layered clouds.
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”) refers to piled-up clouds.
Piles of clouds in layers
Associated with a chance of drizzle or snow.
Sheets of low, lumpy, and grey clouds

18. Altocumulus (middle)
Alto (means "high") is a prefix given to mid-altitude clouds (between 6,000 and 20,000 feet).
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”) refers to piled-up clouds.
Piles of clouds in waves
Mid-level fluffy
Usually associated with rain or snow.

19. Altostratus (middle)
Alto (means "high") is a prefix given to mid-altitude clouds (between 6,000 and 20,000 feet).
Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”) refers to flat, wide, layered clouds.
Thick sheets of grey or blue clouds
Usually associated with rain or snow.

20. Cirrus (high)
Cirro (means "wisp or curl of hair") is a prefix given to high-altitude clouds (above 20,000 feet).
High-level, wispy
Feather-like clouds made of ice crystals
Formed by ice crystals which give the cloud a thin, wispy, or feathery appearance
Usually associated with fair weather

21. Cirrocumulus (high)
Cirro (means "wisp or curl of hair") is a prefix given to high-altitude clouds (above 20,000 feet).
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”) refers to piled-up clouds.
Cottony clouds in waves
Usually associated with fair weather

22. Cirrostratus (high)
Cirro (means "wisp or curl of hair") is a prefix given to high-altitude clouds (above 20,000 feet).
Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”) refers to flat, wide, layered clouds.
Sheet-like, high-level layers of ice crystals
Thin sheets of clouds.
Sometimes looks like a halo around the sun or moon.
Usually associated with rain or snow within 24 hours.

23. Cold Front Cold Front: The zone where cold air is replacing warmer air
Creates tall thunderstorm clouds

24. Warm Front Creates many types of clouds
Warm Front: The zone where warm air is replacing colder air
Creates many types of clouds

25. Stationary Front
Stationary Front: When either a cold or warm front stops moving
Creates thin clouds the cover a lot of sky

26. Cloud Notes Strato (meaning "layer“ or “spread out”)
Nimbo (means "rain")
Cumulo (means "heap“ or “pile”)
Alto (means "high")
Cirro (means "wisp or curl of hair")

27. Making Your Cloud Diagram
You will need 1 sheet of 8 ½” x 11” of paper and a pencil

28. Fold your paper into 3 sections

29. VERTICALLY FORMING CLOUDS
thunderhead
HIGH CLOUDS
Feathery crystals
Cirrus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus
MEDIUM CLOUDS
Cumulonimbus
altocumulus
Altostratus
Fair weather
Fluffy & puffy
VERTICALLY FORMING CLOUDS
rain
thunderhead
Flat & gray
LOW CLOUDS
Stratocumulus
Stratus
Nimbostratus
Cumulus