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
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.
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.
Thunderstorm Formation
1. Moisture - to form clouds and rain.
2. Unstable Air - relatively warm air that can rise
rapidly.
3. Lift - fronts, sea breezes and mountains are
capable of lifting air to help form thunderstorms.
Water Droplets
• Droplets come in many sizes. A raindrop has
about one million times as much water in it as a
cloud droplet.
Clouds are classified by shape and
by altitude (how high they are)
• 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.
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.
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!!
Cumulus (vertical forming)
• Cumulo (means
"heap“ or “pile”)
refers to piled-up
clouds.
• Fair-weather clouds
• Common on sunny
days
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 piledup clouds.
• Dark storm clouds,
produce rain
• Anvil, column- shaped
• Associated with
thunderstorms
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
FOG
A stratus cloud in contact
with the ground.
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.
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
Altocumulus (middle)
• Alto (means "high") is a
prefix given to midaltitude clouds (between
6,000 and 20,000 feet).
• Cumulo (means "heap“
or “pile”) refers to piledup clouds.
• Piles of clouds in waves
• Mid-level fluffy
• Usually associated with
rain or snow.
Altostratus (middle)
• Alto (means "high") is a
prefix given to midaltitude 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.
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
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
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.
Cold Front
Creates tall thunderstorm clouds
Warm Front
Creates many types of clouds
Stationary Front
Creates thin clouds the cover a lot of sky
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")
Making Your Cloud Diagram
You will need 1 sheet of 8 ½” x
11” of paper and a pencil
Fold your paper into 3 sections
Feathery
crystals
Cirrus
altocumulus
thunderhead
Stratocumulus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus
Altostratus
Flat & gray
Stratus
rain
Nimbostratus
VERTICALLY FORMING CLOUDS
HIGH CLOUDS
MEDIUM CLOUDS
LOW CLOUDS
thunderhead
Cumulonimbus
Fair weather
Fluffy & puffy
Cumulus