Clouds

Clouds

· exist from 0 to 60,000 feet

· form when temperature drops and water vapor condenses on dust particles

Cumulus Clouds

· appear as puffy cotton balls

· when dark produce thunderstorms

· when light, usually indicate fair weather is approaching

· can be up to 60,000 feet tall

· can hold up to 1 million gallons of water

Stratus Clouds

· appear solid and layered

· called “fog” when near the ground

· in winter, indicate rain or drizzle

Cirrus Clouds

· appear thin and see-through

· look like feathers or whiskers

· often indicate stormy weather is approaching

Nimbus Clouds

· clouds that produce precipitation

· precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail

· a precipitating cumulus cloud is called “cumulonimbus”

· a precipitating stratus cloud is called “nimbostratus”

Writing Cloud Names

· write cloud names alphabetically

· for example, a cloud that covers the whole sky and is raining would be “nimbostratus” and not “stratonimbus”

Cloud Elevations

· In general:

– High elevation is Cirrus clouds

– Mid elevation is Cumulus clouds

– Low elevation is Stratus clouds