CLOUD TYPES CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING CLOUDS? Slide 2 3
BASIC CLOUD TYPES CIRRUS- Thin and wispy clouds that form at high
levels. They are composed mainly of ice crystals. Cirrus is a Latin
word meaning curl of hair. STRATUS- A low-altitude cloud formation
consisting of a horizontal layer of gray clouds. Latin word meaning
to stretch or layer CUMULUS- Fair weather cumulus have the
appearance of floating cotton and have a lifetime of 5-40 minutes.
Latin word meaning heap. Slide 3 CIRRUS Slide 4 Slide 5 Examples of
STRATUS Clouds (low level, layered clouds) Slide 6 Slide 7 Slide 8
Examples of CUMULUS Clouds (puffy, fair-weather clouds) Slide 9
Slide 10 Slide 11 Slide 12 CUMULONIMBUS Cumulonimbus are very
large, heavy and dense clouds. They have a generally flat, dark
surface with very tall and large tops like the shape of a massive
mountain or anvil. These clouds are often associated with
lightning, thunder and sometimes hail. They may also produce a
tornado. Slide 13 Slide 14 Cumulonimbus clouds are formed by
massive convection currents. Air begins to rise as it is heated by
contact with the warm ground. The air forms separate convection
cells, with warm air rising through the centers of the cells and
cooler air sinking at their sides Slide 15 NIMBOSTRATUS (Nimbo is
the Latin word for rain) Slide 16 Nimbostratus is a rain cloud of
the layer (stratus) type, It is at a low altitude, usually below
8000 ft (2400 m). Nimbostratus clouds completely block the
sunlight.sunlight Slide 17 LEVELS OF CLOUDS HIGH prefix CIRRO
MIDDLE prefix ALTO LOW prefix STRATO Slide 18 LOW LEVEL CLOUDS
STRATOCUMULUS Look for cumulus clouds that look as though they have
grown together. They are thicker and denser than the higher level
cumulus clouds. They are usually in clusters or layers with very
little vertical development. Slide 19 Slide 20 Slide 21 Slide 22
MIDDLE LEVEL CLOUDS ALTOCUMULUS They have distinct cumulus
elements. They can appear in a patchy scattered distribution or in
bands of clouds Slide 23 Slide 24 Slide 25 Slide 26 ALTOSTRATUS
They are spread across the sky like most stratus clouds, but you
may see some breaks between them. Slide 27 Slide 28 HIGH LEVEL
CLOUDS CIRROCUMULUS They can be patchy or in bands like
altocumulus, but appear much thinner because they are at high
levels. Slide 29 Slide 30 Slide 31 Slide 32 CIRROSTRATUS These are
high, thin, stratus clouds. They look like a veil across the sky.
They often produce a halo effect around the sun or moon. Slide 33
Slide 34 Slide 35 UNUSUAL CLOUDS Slide 36 LENTICULAR CLOUDS Slide
37 Lenticular clouds result from a strong airflow over rugged
terrain. Slide 38 Mammatus clouds are found attached to
cumulonimbus clouds. They indicate a strong storm coming. Slide 39
Roll Clouds form when a strong downdraft lifts up warm air to
dewpoint. It indicates a strong storm approaching. Slide 40 Roll
clouds as seen from space. These are on the jet stream. Slide 41
Cirrus clouds on the jet stream. Seen from a satellite. Slide 42
This is a cloud margin occurring over the Indian Ocean. Where the
clouds are thicker indicates a warmer ocean temperature. Cooler
temps are where the clouds are thinner (less water evaporating)
Slide 43 A Cloud Made By a Jet CONTRAIL
