Cloud Notes
Clouds
 Clouds are tiny droplets of water (or ice) that
float in the air
 They form when water vapor condenses
and becomes liquid water (or ice)
Classifying Clouds
 There are three main
types of clouds
– Cumulus
– Stratus
– Cirrus
 Each type causes
different types of
weather
Ingredients
-water vapor
-cooling temperatures
-condensation nuclei
Cumulus Clouds
 Cumulus clouds look
like fluffy, round piles of
cotton
 Form in low to mid
altitudes
 These clouds indicate
fair weather
 Cumulonimbus clouds
are towering clouds with
flat tops that produce
thunderstorms
Stratus Clouds
 Stratus clouds form flat, gray layers and
cover most of the sky
 They form at low altitudes (below 2
kilometers)
 These clouds produce drizzle, rain, or snow
Cirrus Clouds
 Form at high levels (above 6 kilometers)
where temperatures are low
 They are made of ice crystals and are
associated with fair weather
Fog
 Fog is when clouds form at or near the
ground
 It forms when the ground cools at night after
a warm, humid day