Clouds and Precip Type
Clouds are classified on the basis of two
criteria:
* form and height.
The three basic cloud forms are cirrus
(high, white, and thin), cumulus (globular,
individual cloud masses), and stratus
(sheets or layers).
Clouds Heights
Cirrus -High, with bases above 6000
meters (20,000 feet) –
Alto - Middle, from 2000 to 6000 meters -Stratus -Low, below 2000 meters (6500
feet) -- Based on the two criteria, ten basic
cloud types, including cirrostratus,
altocumulus, and stratocumulus, are
recognized
Clouds Heights
• Nimbo/Nimbus -- Rain cloud, Dark gray.
Steady all day rain.
• Clouds of Vertical Development - Cumulus
and Cumulonimbus. They develop into
towers or domes
• Cumulonimbus – Thunderstorms,
heavy rain
Precipitation
• Rising Air, Condensation, Clouds
• Temperature Profile of the Atmosphere.
- Is it warm or Cold. Above 32 or below
Will it Snow or Rain?
• Temperature Profile
Precipitation – Rain, Snow, Sleet,
Freezing Rain
• Temperature Profile of the Atmosphere.
- Is it warm or Cold. Above 32 or below
• Rain – All Layers above 32
• Snow – All Layers below 32
• Sleet – Cold, Warm, Cold Layers
• Freezing Rain – Warm, Shallow Cold Air
Precipitation – Rain
Rain – All Layers Above 32 Degrees
Precipitation – SNOW
Snow – All Layers below 32 Degrees
Precipitation – Sleet
Sleet – Cold, Warm Cold layers
Precipitation – (Glaze) Freezing Rain
Freezing Rain – Warm, Cold Surface
• When water changes state, heat is exchanged
between water and its surroundings. When
water evaporates, heat is absorbed. When water
condenses, heat is released. This heat is
measured by calories. One calorie is the amount
of heat required to raise the temperature of 1
gram of water 1C.Because the Heat is used to
melt ice does not produce a temperature
change, its referred to as latent heat. Latent heat
means hidden. It takes 80 calories
to melt one gram of ice. It takes about 540 to
600 calories to go from gas to liquid. To go from
Gas to Solid (deposition) heat released 680
calories.
• It takes 80 calories to melt one gram of
ice. It takes about 540 to 600 calories to
go from gas to liquid. To go from Gas to
Solid (deposition) heat released 680
calories.