Cloud FormationsCloud Formations

Science-Grade 5Science-Grade 5

Holly JarmanHolly Jarman

October 30, 2008October 30, 2008

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Review the Water CycleReview the Water Cycle

Learn about Cloud FormationsLearn about Cloud Formations

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Finish this LessonFinish this Lesson

Remember…Remember… We learned about the We learned about the

Water Cycle earlier this Water Cycle earlier this yearyear– PRECIPITATION is rain, PRECIPITATION is rain,

snow, or hail that falls from snow, or hail that falls from the sky and collects on the the sky and collects on the earthearth

– EVAPORATION is when the EVAPORATION is when the sun heats collected water sun heats collected water and the water rises into the and the water rises into the atmosphereatmosphere

– CONDENSATION occurs CONDENSATION occurs when the evaporated water when the evaporated water cools and water droplets cools and water droplets stick together…forming stick together…forming clouds!!!clouds!!!

Today, we will learn about Today, we will learn about cloud typescloud types– There are three main There are three main

categories of clouds:categories of clouds: StratusStratus CirrusCirrus CumulusCumulus

– They are also classified by They are also classified by altitude levelsaltitude levels

Stratus CloudsStratus Clouds Stratus clouds are known as “low” clouds because Stratus clouds are known as “low” clouds because

they are found under 6,000 ft. into our atmospherethey are found under 6,000 ft. into our atmosphere They are long and grey or white in colorThey are long and grey or white in color They form in horizontal sheetsThey form in horizontal sheets They look like fog, but they do not touch the They look like fog, but they do not touch the

groundground They can produce drizzle, but rarely produce rainThey can produce drizzle, but rarely produce rain They can combine with cumulus clouds to make They can combine with cumulus clouds to make

stratocumulus cloudsstratocumulus clouds– Light to dark gray in color, can produce weak Light to dark gray in color, can produce weak

precipitationprecipitation

Some pictures of Stratus CloudsSome pictures of Stratus Clouds

The word “stratus” comes from the Latin word for The word “stratus” comes from the Latin word for “layer”. “layer”.

Remember that stratus clouds appear in long Remember that stratus clouds appear in long waves or layers—like in the third picturewaves or layers—like in the third picture

Cirrus CloudsCirrus Clouds Can be described as thin and wispyCan be described as thin and wispy They are considered “high” clouds because They are considered “high” clouds because

their altitudes in the sky are upwards of their altitudes in the sky are upwards of 20,000 ft.20,000 ft.

They usually indicate fair or pleasant They usually indicate fair or pleasant weather with plenty of sunshineweather with plenty of sunshine

Cirrus clouds can combine with other cloud Cirrus clouds can combine with other cloud typestypes– Ex: Cirrostratus or CirrocumulusEx: Cirrostratus or Cirrocumulus

These are high altitude cloud that cover the entire These are high altitude cloud that cover the entire skysky

Images of Cirrus CloudsImages of Cirrus Clouds

The word “cirrus” is the Latin translation of “curl of The word “cirrus” is the Latin translation of “curl of hair”hair”

Remember that these clouds are characterized by Remember that these clouds are characterized by being thin and wispy like in the second picturebeing thin and wispy like in the second picture

Cumulus CloudsCumulus Clouds

These clouds look like cotton—they are These clouds look like cotton—they are puffy and whitepuffy and white

Cumulus clouds have “vertical development”Cumulus clouds have “vertical development”– This means they start as a flat base and grow This means they start as a flat base and grow

upwardsupwards

These clouds can start out as low to the These clouds can start out as low to the ground as 330 ft. and grow up to 39,000 ft. ground as 330 ft. and grow up to 39,000 ft. talltall

Cumulus continued…Cumulus continued…

There are several types of cumulus cloudsThere are several types of cumulus clouds– Cumulus Congestus (aka Towering Cumulus) is Cumulus Congestus (aka Towering Cumulus) is

a type of cumulus cloud with a thin base and a a type of cumulus cloud with a thin base and a flowering top—it looks like a cauliflowerflowering top—it looks like a cauliflower

These clouds can usually be seen in good These clouds can usually be seen in good weather, but may indicate bad weather later weather, but may indicate bad weather later onon

Pictures of Cumulus CloudsPictures of Cumulus Clouds

The word “cumulus” is Latin for “heap”The word “cumulus” is Latin for “heap” The third picture is of a “towering” cumulus. It is The third picture is of a “towering” cumulus. It is

very tall, but not as wide—like a cauliflowervery tall, but not as wide—like a cauliflower

Alto- CloudsAlto- Clouds These are mid-level clouds. They are found These are mid-level clouds. They are found

anywhere from 6,500 to 23,000 ft. in the anywhere from 6,500 to 23,000 ft. in the atmosphereatmosphere

AltoAltostratusstratus clouds are gray, found in layers, clouds are gray, found in layers, and are made up of water droplets and ice and are made up of water droplets and ice crystalscrystals– They can cover the entire sky with very little sun They can cover the entire sky with very little sun

shining throughshining through– These typically form at the head of These typically form at the head of

thunderstorms or bad precipitation stormsthunderstorms or bad precipitation storms

Alto- Clouds continued…Alto- Clouds continued… AltoAltocumuluscumulus clouds are gray and puffy clouds are gray and puffy

– They are primarily made up of water dropletsThey are primarily made up of water droplets– If these clouds are seen on a humid day, If these clouds are seen on a humid day,

thunderstorms may form later in the day—these thunderstorms may form later in the day—these can precede storms with heat lightningcan precede storms with heat lightning

Altostratus Altocumulus

Nimbus CloudsNimbus Clouds The word “Nimbus” is Latin for “rain”The word “Nimbus” is Latin for “rain”

– These clouds are forms of other clouds that These clouds are forms of other clouds that produce precipitationproduce precipitation

NimboNimbostratusstratus are dark gray stratus clouds are dark gray stratus clouds that produce light to moderate precipitationthat produce light to moderate precipitation

CumuloCumulonimbus clouds are Cumulus nimbus clouds are Cumulus Congestus cloud that grow up to high Congestus cloud that grow up to high altitudesaltitudes– These are clouds that produce dangerous These are clouds that produce dangerous

weather such as thunder, lightning, and weather such as thunder, lightning, and tornadostornados

Nimbus Cloud ImagesNimbus Cloud Images

Remember…if clouds are “nimbus” clouds they Remember…if clouds are “nimbus” clouds they are producing precipitationare producing precipitation

Cumulonimbus clouds are the ones that produce Cumulonimbus clouds are the ones that produce lightninglightning

Let’s Go “Cloud Watching”Let’s Go “Cloud Watching” Watch this short video before you take the post-Watch this short video before you take the post-

test, just to get a look at the three main types of test, just to get a look at the three main types of clouds—stratus, cirrus, and cumulus clouds—stratus, cirrus, and cumulus

Click on this box to start the video

Click Here to Take the Post-Test

Post-test Question 1Post-test Question 1

This cloud type is characterized by being This cloud type is characterized by being puffy and white, with vertical developmentpuffy and white, with vertical development

– CirrusCirrus– NimbusNimbus– CumulusCumulus– StratusStratus

Post-Test Question 2Post-Test Question 2

This cloud formation is low altitude (less This cloud formation is low altitude (less than 6,000 ft. above the ground) and than 6,000 ft. above the ground) and typically forms in layers.typically forms in layers.

– StratusStratus– CirrusCirrus– AltocumulusAltocumulus– CumulonimbusCumulonimbus

Post-Test Question 3Post-Test Question 3

This cloud is thin and wispy. It is a high-This cloud is thin and wispy. It is a high-altitude cloud, appearing 20,000 ft. above altitude cloud, appearing 20,000 ft. above the groundthe ground

– NimbusNimbus– CumulusCumulus– AltostratusAltostratus– CirrusCirrus

Post-Test Question 4Post-Test Question 4

This type of Cumulus Cloud produces bad This type of Cumulus Cloud produces bad weather like thunderstormsweather like thunderstorms

– CirrocumulusCirrocumulus– CumulonimbusCumulonimbus– AltocumulusAltocumulus– StratocumulusStratocumulus

CreditsCredits Information from:Information from:

– http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud3.htmlhttp://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud3.html This was my favorite website for getting cloud information!This was my favorite website for getting cloud information!

– http://www.2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/http://www.2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/home.rxmlcldtyp/home.rxml

Pictures from:Pictures from:– http://www.hnsc.gov.uk/assets/channels/education/se/ehttp://www.hnsc.gov.uk/assets/channels/education/se/e

arth_water_cycle.jpgarth_water_cycle.jpg– http://www.capetownskies.com/7032/06_cumulus_tm_trhttp://www.capetownskies.com/7032/06_cumulus_tm_tr

eesc.jpgeesc.jpg Copyright 2004, GordonCopyright 2004, Gordon

– http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/fucutly/ritter/images/atmopherhttp://www.uwsp.edu/geo/fucutly/ritter/images/atmophere/clouds/stratus_NOAA_wea02047.jpge/clouds/stratus_NOAA_wea02047.jpg

Credits continued…Credits continued…

Pictures from:Pictures from:– http://www.davidadamsonline.com/images/cirruhttp://www.davidadamsonline.com/images/cirru

s_example.jpgs_example.jpg– http://www.bigelow.org/virutal/handson/cirrus.gifhttp://www.bigelow.org/virutal/handson/cirrus.gif– http://www.weatherworks.com/cool_clouds_poll/http://www.weatherworks.com/cool_clouds_poll/

cumulus.jpgcumulus.jpg– http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/chttp://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/c

mmap/education.htmlmmap/education.html– http://www.davidadamsonline.com/images.cloudhttp://www.davidadamsonline.com/images.cloud

_nimbostratus_thumbnail.jpg_nimbostratus_thumbnail.jpg

The EndThe End

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You finished this lesson on You finished this lesson on

cloud formations.cloud formations.