Download Stratus Clouds

Understanding Clouds
 Clouds form as
warm air is
forced upward
 As the air is
forced upward,
it expands and
cools
Understanding Clouds
 As the air cools,
the relative
humidity
reaches 100%
Water vapor begins to condense
in tiny drops around nuclei.
Nuclei are small particles of dust,
salt, and smoke in the
atmosphere
Cloud Types
 Cloud
Categories:
– Shape,
Height, and
sometimes
Rain Capacity
Stratus Clouds
 Stratus
clouds form
a smooth,
even sheet
 They usually
form at low
altitudes
Stratus Clouds
 When air is
cooled and
condenses near
the ground, a
stratus cloud
know as _______
forms
 Know the
name?
Cumulus Clouds
 These are
masses of
puffy, white
clouds, often
with flat bases
 They form
when air
currents rise
Cumulus Clouds
 They can be
associated
with both fair
weather
and_____when
they get really
tall!
Thunderstorms!
Cirrus Clouds
 Cirrus clouds
are high, thin,
white,
feathery
clouds
containing ice
crystals
Cirrus Clouds
 Cirrus clouds
are usually
associated
with fair
weather, but
they may
indicate
approaching
storms
By Height
 The prefix of cloud names can
describe the height of cloud
bases
 Cirro: High clouds above
6000m
By Height
 Alto: Middle elevation clouds
between 2000 to 6000m
 Strato: Low level clouds below
2000m
Rain Clouds
 Nimbus
clouds are
dark clouds
associated
with
precipitation
Rain Clouds
 When a nimbus
cloud is also a
towering
cumulus cloud,
it’s called a
cumulonimbus
cloud
Ready for a quick review?
 1. Clouds can form when the
relative humidity reaches ____%
 2. In order for clouds to form,
water vapor begins to condense
around ____of dust, salt, and
smoke
 3. Clouds are classified by ____
and____ and sometimes rain
capacity
 4. Puffy, white clouds are called?
 5. Mid elevation clouds between
2000 and 6000m
Let’s see how you did!
1. 100
2. Nuclei
3. Shape and height
4. Cumulus
5. Alto