Download Clouds and Weather Predicting

Clouds and
Weather
Prediction
In this activity you will:
• Learn about the types of
clouds, how they are formed,
and the weather each might
predict.
• Illustrate four common cloud
types.
Clouds are formed as part of
the water cycle
What are clouds?
How are they made? NOVA
• A cloud is made up of tiny
water droplets and/or ice
crystals, a snowflake is a
collection of many ice
crystals, and rain is just
liquid water.
Cloud Types
• Names of specific types of clouds
are created by combining the
name of the cloud's shape
with its height.
Cloud Types
• The presence of clouds in the
sky is one type of signal to
meteorologists that there will
be changes in the weather.
Predicting the weather
requires the understanding of
the different types of clouds.
Cloud Formation
• Clouds form when solar heating
of the earth’s surface warms the
air near the ground. This air
begins to rise and it expands and
cools.
• Water vapor then condenses on
small dust particles suspended
in the air and these combine to
form clouds.
Cloud Formation
Why are there so many different types of clouds?
• The type of cloud created is
determined by how fast the
air rises.
Clouds
There are 3 main types of clouds:
• Cumulus or fluffy clouds form when
air is forced up rapidly and therefore
rises higher.
Cumulus
Clouds
• Stratus clouds are layered clouds
that form when air that is forced up
slowly.
Stratus
Clouds
• Cirrus clouds are thin
feathery clouds.
Cirrus
For Fun
• Top Ten Rare Cloud Types
There are three categories
of cloud heights:
• High Clouds = Cirrus
• Middle Clouds = Alto
• Low Clouds = Stratus
High Clouds: Cirrus
• Cirrus clouds are made of
ice crystals and are high
and wispy. They can be
divided into cirrostratus
and cirrocumulus clouds.
High Clouds: Cirrus
• Cirrus generally occur in fair
weather and point in the
direction of air movement at their
elevation.
Cirrus
• Cirrus clouds are
usually the first sign of
an approaching storm.
High Clouds = Cirrus
Types:
• Cirrus
• Cirrostratus
• Cirrocumulus
Cirrus
Middle Clouds: Alto
• Altostratus
• Altocumulus
Middle Clouds: Altocumulus
Altocumulus
clouds usually
form from the
gradual lifting of
air in advance of
a cold front.
Middle Clouds: Altocumulus
The presence of altocumulus
clouds on a warm and humid
summer morning is commonly
followed by thunderstorms later in
the day.
An
altostratus
cloud usually
forms ahead
of storms
with
continuous
rain or snow.
Occasionally,
rain will fall
from an
altostratus
cloud.
Low Clouds: Stratus
• Stratus
• Stratocumulus
• Nimbostratus
Low Level Stratus Clouds
Low clouds are of mostly
composed of water droplets.
However, when temperatures are
cold enough, these clouds may
also contain ice particles and
snow.
Low Clouds: Stratus
• Stratus clouds resemble fog,
but they do not reach the
ground. They often produce
mist or drizzle.
Low Level Stratus Clouds
Low Level Stratus Clouds
Only light
precipitation,
generally in the form
of drizzle, occurs
with stratocumulus
clouds. To
distinguish between
a stratocumulus and
an altocumulus
cloud, point your
hand toward the
cloud. If the cloud is
about the size of
your fist, then it is
stratocumulus
Nimbostratus
• They are dark gray with a
ragged base.
Nimbostratus clouds are
associated with
continuous rain or snow.
Sometimes they cover
the whole sky and you
can't see the edges of the
cloud
Vertically Developed Clouds
• Fair weather cumulus have
the appearance of floating
cotton and have a lifetime
of 5-40 minutes. The cloud
tops designate the limit of
the rising air.
Vertically Developed Clouds
• Harmless fair weather cumulus
can later develop into towering
cumulonimbus clouds
associated with powerful
thunderstorms.
Nimbus Clouds
• Nimbus clouds are clouds
that produce precipitation.
Nimbo or nimbus might be
used with cumulus or stratus
to indicate a cloud formation
that is producing rain.
Cumulonimbus and
Nimbostratus
• A nimbostratus cloud is a
stratus cloud with
precipitation and a
cumulonimbus cloud is a
cumulus cloud with
precipitation.
Cumulonimbus Clouds
• Cumulonimbus clouds are
the "thunderheads" that
can be seen on a warm
summer day and can bring
strong winds, hail, and
rain.
Nimbostratus
• Nimbostratus are dark,
low-level clouds
accompanied by light to
moderately falling
precipitation.
Nimbostratus
• Nimbostratus clouds will
bring a long steady rain.
However, when
temperatures are cold
enough, these clouds may
also contain ice particles
and snow.
Nimbostratus
Stratocumulus Clouds
• Stratocumulus clouds
generally appear as a low,
lumpy layer of clouds that is
sometimes accompanied by
weak intensity precipitation.
Stratocumulus
Weather Predictors
• Clouds, in many
cases, foreshadow
incoming weather and
assist in forecasting.
Four Types of Clouds GO
• Given the blue paper and a small piece of white chalk, you are
to draw each of the following types of clouds: cumulus, cirrus,
stratus, and cumulonimbus
• Divide your paper into four equal parts along. Fold into fourths.
Turn down the center corner of your page so that when you
open up the page you have created a graphic organizer that
now has a diamond in its center. Write Cloud Types in this
center diamond. Label one corner cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and
cumulonimbus. In the appropriate box illustrate each type of
cloud using your piece of chalk.
Summarizer
• Using the descriptions given, write the
name of the cloud type, a description of
the cloud, and the kind of weather
associated with each one. (wkst 98)