Clouds and Clouds and Weather Weather

PredictionPrediction

Learner ExpectationsLearner Expectations

• Grade 5–Atmosphere:

Conditions/Data/Predict The learner will be able to predict weather conditions based on an analysis of atmospheric data.

In this activity you will:

• Learn about the types of clouds and the weather each might predict.

• Write a paragraph about a cloud type and its weather.

What are clouds?What are clouds?

• A cloud is made up of tiny water droplets and/or ice crystals, a snowflake is a collection of many ice crystals, and rain is just liquid water.

Cloud TypesCloud Types

• Names of specific types of clouds are created by combining the name of the cloud's shape with its height.

Cloud TypesCloud Types

• The presence of clouds in the sky is one type of signal to meteorologists that there will be changes in the weather. Predicting the weather requires the understanding of the different types of clouds.

Cloud FormationCloud Formation• Clouds form when solar heating

of the earth’s surface warms the air near the ground. This air begins to rise and it expands and cools.

• Water vapor then condenses on small dust particles suspended in the air and these combine to form clouds.

Cloud FormationCloud Formation

• The type of cloud created is determined by how fast the air rises.

CloudsCloudsThere are 3 main types of clouds:• Cumulus or fluffy clouds form when

air is forced up rapidly and therefore rises higher.

Cumulus

CloudsClouds• Stratus clouds are layered clouds

that form when air that is forced up slowly.

Stratus

CloudsClouds• Cirrus clouds are thin

feathery clouds.

Cirrus

There are three categories There are three categories of cloud heights:of cloud heights:

• High Clouds = CirrusHigh Clouds = Cirrus • Middle Clouds = Alto • Low Clouds = Stratus

High Clouds = Cirrus

Types:

• Cirrus

• Cirrostratus• Cirrocumulus

High Clouds: CirrusHigh Clouds: Cirrus

• Cirrus clouds are made of ice crystals and are high and wispy. They can be divided into cirrostratus and cirrocumulus clouds.

High Clouds: CirrusHigh Clouds: Cirrus

High Clouds:High Clouds: CirrusCirrus• Cirrus generally occur in fair

weather and point in the direction of air movement at their elevation.

CirrusCirrus• Cirrus clouds are

usually the first sign of an approaching storm.

Cirrus Clouds

Middle Clouds: AltoMiddle Clouds: Alto

•Altostratus•Altocumulus

Middle Clouds:Middle Clouds: AltocumulusAltocumulus

Altocumulus clouds usually form from the gradual lifting of air in advance of a cold front.

Middle Clouds:Middle Clouds: AltocumulusAltocumulusThe presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day.

Low Clouds: StratusLow Clouds: Stratus

•Stratus•Stratocumulus•Nimbostratus

Low Level Stratus CloudsLow Level Stratus Clouds

Low clouds are of mostly composed of water droplets. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow.

Low Level Stratus CloudsLow Level Stratus Clouds

Low Level Stratus CloudsLow Level Stratus Clouds

Low Clouds: StratusLow Clouds: Stratus

• Stratus clouds resemble fog, but they do not reach the ground. They often produce mist or drizzle.

Vertically Developed CloudsVertically Developed Clouds

• Fair weather cumulus have the appearance of floating cotton and have a lifetime of 5-40 minutes. The cloud tops designate the limit of the rising air.

Vertically Developed CloudsVertically Developed Clouds

• Harmless fair weather cumulus can later develop into towering cumulonimbus clouds associated with powerful thunderstorms.

Nimbus CloudsNimbus Clouds

• Nimbus clouds are clouds that produce precipitation. Nimbo or nimbus might be used with cumulus or stratus to indicate a cloud formation that is producing rain.

Cumulonimbus and Cumulonimbus and NimbostratusNimbostratus

• A nimbostratus cloud is a stratus cloud with precipitation and a cumulonimbus cloud is a cumulus cloud with precipitation.

Cumulonimbus CloudsCumulonimbus Clouds

• Cumulonimbus clouds are the "thunderheads" that can be seen on a warm summer day and can bring strong winds, hail, and rain.

NimbostratusNimbostratus• Nimbostratus are dark,

low-level clouds accompanied by light to moderately falling precipitation.

NimbostratusNimbostratus

• Nimbostratus clouds will bring a long steady rain. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow.

NimbostratusNimbostratus

Stratocumulus CloudsStratocumulus Clouds• Stratocumulus clouds

generally appear as a low, lumpy layer of clouds that is sometimes accompanied by weak intensity precipitation.

StratocumulusStratocumulus

Weather PredictorsWeather Predictors

• Clouds, in many cases, foreshadow incoming weather and assist in forecasting.

More about Clouds

Writing Activity

• Write a paragraph about one type of cloud and the weather conditions it predicts. Include 4 facts from this presentation.