Clouds and Weather Clouds and Weather PredictionsPredictions

55thth Grade Science Grade Science

What are cloudsWhat are clouds??

A cloud is made up of tiny water A cloud is made up of tiny water droplets and/or ice crystals.droplets and/or ice crystals.

After water has evaporated, the After water has evaporated, the water vapor is attracted to the cold water vapor is attracted to the cold temperatures at high altitudes. temperatures at high altitudes.

Water vapor, along with dust Water vapor, along with dust particles, form clouds in the particles, form clouds in the troposphere.troposphere.

Cloud NamesCloud Names

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

3 Main Types of Clouds3 Main Types of Clouds

Cumulus or fluffy clouds Cumulus or fluffy clouds Cumulus means “pile or heap”Cumulus means “pile or heap” These clouds are very puffy in These clouds are very puffy in

appearance.appearance. Think: cumulus=Cool WhipThink: cumulus=Cool Whip

Usually associated with fair weather. When they pile up vertically, they can

cause thunderstorms.

3 Main Types of Clouds3 Main Types of Clouds

Stratus means to “spread out”Stratus means to “spread out” These are clouds that are flat These are clouds that are flat

and layered so that they can and layered so that they can stretch out across the sky.stretch out across the sky.

Think: stratus=stretchedThink: stratus=stretched

Only light rain or drizzle can fall from trueStratus clouds because they are so thin.

3 Main Types of Clouds3 Main Types of Clouds

Cirrus means “curl of hair”Cirrus means “curl of hair” These are very wispy and feathery These are very wispy and feathery

looking.looking. These are composed of ice crystals These are composed of ice crystals

that are so thin, the sun can pass that are so thin, the sun can pass right through them.right through them.

Think: cirrus=Curly SueThink: cirrus=Curly Sue

Cirrus clouds generally occur in fair weather.

Nimbus CloudsNimbus Clouds

Nimbus means “rainy”Nimbus means “rainy” You can add the word nimbus to You can add the word nimbus to

the end of a cloud name and it the end of a cloud name and it means that it is raining.means that it is raining.

Think: nimbus=not goodThink: nimbus=not good

CumulonimbusCumulonimbus

CumulonimbusCumulonimbus

Dark clouds that pile on top of each otherDark clouds that pile on top of each other Produce severe weather heavy rain, hail, Produce severe weather heavy rain, hail,

thunder lightning.thunder lightning. Associated with tornadoes and hurricanesAssociated with tornadoes and hurricanes Sometimes called “Thunder Heads”Sometimes called “Thunder Heads”

Name the cloud…Name the cloud…

These clouds are the These clouds are the highest clouds. highest clouds.

They are thin and They are thin and usually happen in fair usually happen in fair weather.weather.

These clouds are good These clouds are good to see if you are to see if you are planning a picnic planning a picnic lunch.lunch.

These clouds form in These clouds form in the middle part of the the middle part of the cloud layer. cloud layer.

They are big and puffy They are big and puffy and are also and are also associated with good associated with good weather.weather.

However, when these However, when these clouds pile up clouds pile up vertically, they bring vertically, they bring thunder storms.thunder storms.

Name that cloud…Name that cloud…

Name that cloud…Name that cloud…

These are the lowest These are the lowest clouds. clouds.

Sometimes they are so Sometimes they are so low to the ground that low to the ground that they form fog.they form fog.

They are long, layered They are long, layered clouds.clouds.

Light rain or drizzle Light rain or drizzle usually fall from this usually fall from this type of cloud.type of cloud.

Name that cloud…Name that cloud…

What do clouds with the word “nimbus” in their What do clouds with the word “nimbus” in their name bring? name bring?

Categories of HeightsCategories of Heights

There are three categories of There are three categories of heights of clouds:heights of clouds:

High Clouds = Cirrus High Clouds = Cirrus Middle Clouds = Alto Middle Clouds = Alto Low Clouds = StratusLow Clouds = Stratus

High CloudsHigh Clouds Cirrus generally Cirrus generally

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

CirrusCirrusCirrostratusCirrostratusCirrocumulusCirrocumulus

CirrostratusCirrostratus

CirrocumulusCirrocumulus

Cirrus CloudsCirrus Clouds

By watching cirrus clouds, you can tell from By watching cirrus clouds, you can tell from which direction the weather is approaching.which direction the weather is approaching.

These clouds are usually white and predict These clouds are usually white and predict fair weather.fair weather.

Cirrostratus clouds usually form 12-24 hours Cirrostratus clouds usually form 12-24 hours before a storm is coming.before a storm is coming.

Cirrocumulus clouds usually appear in the Cirrocumulus clouds usually appear in the winter. They are present for fair, but cold winter. They are present for fair, but cold weather.weather.

Middle CloudsMiddle Clouds

Alto clouds are Alto clouds are often a gray color often a gray color and cover the and cover the entire sky. entire sky.

They form a few They form a few hours before hours before heavy rain, snow heavy rain, snow or thunderstorms.or thunderstorms.

AltostratusAltostratusAltocumulusAltocumulus

AltostratusAltostratus

AltostratusAltostratus

AltocumulusAltocumulus

Alto CloudsAlto Clouds

Altostratus clouds usually form ahead Altostratus clouds usually form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow.of storms with continuous rain or snow.

Altocumulus clouds usually form in Altocumulus clouds usually form in groups. If you see altocumulus clouds groups. If you see altocumulus clouds on a warm, sticky morning, be on a warm, sticky morning, be prepared to see thunderstorms late in prepared to see thunderstorms late in the afternoon.the afternoon.

Low CloudsLow Clouds

Stratus clouds are Stratus clouds are not the same thing as not the same thing as fog.fog.

They often cover the They often cover the entire sky, but do not entire sky, but do not touch the ground. touch the ground.

Light mists or drizzles Light mists or drizzles sometimes fall from sometimes fall from these clouds.these clouds.

StratocumulusStratocumulusNimbostratusNimbostratus

StratocumulusStratocumulus

StratocumulusStratocumulus

When these clouds When these clouds are low, they are are low, they are associated with fair associated with fair weather.weather.

However, if they grow However, if they grow upward, they can upward, they can develop into giant develop into giant cumulonimbus cumulonimbus clouds, or clouds, or thunderstorm clouds. thunderstorm clouds.

NimbostratusNimbostratus

NimbostratusNimbostratus

These are dark gray These are dark gray clouds associated with clouds associated with continuously falling continuously falling rain or snow. rain or snow.

They often produce They often produce precipitation that is precipitation that is usually light or usually light or moderate.moderate.

Cumulus CloudsCumulus Clouds

These are the floating cotton balls that you These are the floating cotton balls that you see in the sky.see in the sky.

They are present for fair weather, but can They are present for fair weather, but can rise and become thunderstorm clouds.rise and become thunderstorm clouds.

When they become thunderstorms, they are When they become thunderstorms, they are called cumulonimbus clouds.called cumulonimbus clouds.