Clouds A Weather Predictor
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Clouds form through condensation and reflect weather patterns. They are made of water in liquid or ice form and affect temperatures by blocking sunlight. Clouds are classified by their height and shape into cirrus, cumulus, stratis, and vertical clouds. Cirrus clouds are wispy and high altitude while cumulus are puffy and can develop vertically. Stratis are low, flat clouds while vertical clouds are tall and can produce severe weather.
Clouds A Weather Predictor
- 2. UNDERSTANDING CLOUDS Clouds are usually the most obvious feature of the sky. They reflect weather patterns and play a role in what the weather does. They are sources of precipitation as well as affect the temperatures of our atmosphere. Clouds block incoming sunlight during the day, which cools the air, but they can also block outgoing radiation from the Earth, which can warm temperatures.
- 3. WHAT ARE CLOUDS Clouds are water, either small liquid water drops or tiny pieces of ice. Meteorologists rank clouds according to their height and whether they are puffy or flat.
- 4. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED Clouds form when the air rises and evaporation and transpiration occurs. As temperatures and air pressure drop, water droplets clump together causing condensation or a cloud. When the droplets are too heavy to float in the air they fall to the ground in the form of rain or snow called, precipitation.
- 5. CLOUD CLASSIFICATION Cirrus- high level clouds that have bases below 7,000 feet Cumulus - mid-level clouds that have bases between 7000-18,000 feet Straus -low level clouds that have bases below 6,500 feet Vertical -tallest of all clouds that can go up to 60,000 feet.
- 6. CIRRUS High altitude and wispy Composed of ice crystals Thin with hairlike strands Some have a wavelike appearance Some have a sheetlike appearance Are usually thin allowing moonlight and sun to shine through
- 7. CUMULUS Contains ice crystals or rain Usually puffy Noticeable vertical development Have popcorn appearance Can be widely scattered or clumped Appears thick
- 8. STRATUS Lowest of the low clouds Appear as an overcast, but can be scattered Can be in layers
- 9. VERTICALLY FORMED CLOUDS Can produce lightning, heavy rains, hail, strong winds, and tornados. They are the tallest of all clouds and have an anvil shaped top due to the stronger winds at those altitudes.