Transcript Clouds are usually the most obvious feature of the sky. They reflect

A Weather
Predictor
UNDERSTANDING CLOUDS
Clouds are usually the most obvious feature of
the sky. They reflect weather patterns and
play a role in what the weather does. They
are sources of precipitation as well as affect
the temperatures of our atmosphere. Clouds
block incoming sunlight during the day, which
cools the air, but they can also block outgoing
WHAT ARE CLOUDS
Clouds are water,
either small liquid
water drops or
tiny pieces of ice.
Meteorologists rank
clouds according
to their height
and whether they
are puffy or flat.
HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED
Clouds form when the air
rises and evaporation
and transpiration
occurs.
As temperatures and air
pressure drop, water
droplets clump together
causing condensation or
a cloud.
When the droplets are too
heavy to float in the air
they fall to the ground
in the form of rain or
snow called,
precipitation.
CLOUD CLASSIFICATION
• Cirrus-high level clouds that have bases
below 7,000 feet
• Cumulus- mid-level clouds that have
bases between 7000-18,000 feet
• Straus-low level clouds that have bases
below 6,500 feet
• Vertical-tallest of all clouds that can go
up to 60,000 feet.
CIRRUS
•
•
•
•
High altitude and wispy
Composed of ice crystals
Thin with hairlike strands
Some have a wavelike
appearance
• Some have a sheetlike
appearance
• Are usually thin allowing
moonlight and sun to
shine through
CUMULUS
• Contains ice crystals
or rain
• Usually puffy
• Noticeable vertical
development
• Have popcorn appearance
• Can be widely scattered
or clumped
• Appears thick
STRATUS
• Lowest of the low
clouds
• Appear as an
overcast, but can be
scattered
• Can be in layers
VERTICALLY FORMED
CLOUDS
Can produce lightning, heavy rains, hail, strong winds,
and tornados. They are the tallest of all clouds and
have an anvil shaped top due to the stronger winds at
those altitudes.