Download 4 Basic Cloud Families Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Lenticular Cumulus

4 Basic Cloud Families
1. Cumulus
2. Stratus
3. Cirrus
4. Lenticular
Cumulus Clouds
Usually puffy, or bulgy.
Vertical lifting of warm air is what
leads to their formation.
Cumulonimbus Clouds –
Granddaddies of the cumulus family,
also known as thunderheads.
Resemble giant anvils.
Stratus Clouds
Flat heavy blanket of low clouds.
What we see a lot of.
Cirrus Clouds
Delicate, thin clouds that float near the top of
the troposphere.
Composed of tiny crystals of ice.
Lenticular Clouds
Resemble a double convex lens.
Can pile up like pancakes.
Usually form over mountains.
Combination Clouds – Show
characteristics of two different
families.
1. Cirrostratus
2. Cirrocumulus
3. Stratocumulus
Cirrostratus Clouds
Sheet like over the sky, but have
characteristics of cirrus clouds.
Made of ice crystals.
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Look like tiny tufts of cotton floating
in the sky.
High altitude heaps of ice crystals.
Stratocumulus Clouds
A low, heavy layer of clouds that
may cover the entire sky.
A series of rolls, or bumps.
Altocumulus Clouds
A medium height cumulus cloud.
Altostratus Clouds
Higher flying versions of stratus
clouds.
Nimbus Cloud
Any rain cloud.
The two rainmaking clouds are usually called
cumulonimbus or nimbostratus clouds.
Fog – Stratus cloud at ground level.
Develops when air cools without
rising
Radiation Fog – The temperature of
the ground drops rapidly as infrared
radiation escapes into space.
As the ground cools, the air above it
also cools.
Advection Fog – Fog that forms
when warm, moist air moves over a
cold surface.
Called sea fog when it develops over
the ocean.
Smog – When ordinary fog develops
in air already filled with smoke.
Freezing Nucleus - A small particle upon which
water molecules can collect in sold form.
Without these, water can be present in liquid form
from temperatures between 32 ◦F to -40 ◦F
The water is said to be supercooled.
Cloud Seeding- A technique for inducing rainfall in a dry
area.
Silver Iodide (AgI) is released from an airplane into a cold
cloud.
Silver Iodide acts as the freezing nucleus.
Can also be done with dry ice.
Coalesce – Merge
This is how rain in the tropics
occurs because the cloud droplets
grow too large.
Rain – Liquid precipitation.
Tropical Rain- Rain that forms
through coalescence.
Snowflakes- large, icy clumps of
precipitation.
Wet Snow – Snow that adheres to
things.
Dry Snow – Snow that is powdery
and doesn’t stick to things.
Sleet– Frozen raindrops
Freezing Rain – A super cooled
raindrop that freezes when it lands
on something.
Ice Storm– A storm of freezing rain.