The notes that CLOUD your mind

Chapter 5

Clouds

• Visible aggregates of minute droplets of liquid water or tiny crystals of ice.

• Tell us what is going on in the atmos at that time and place.

• Helps us forecast the weather.

Classification of Clouds

• Based on HEIGHT & SHAPE

• 10 BASIC cloud types. (p. 106-107)

3 Forms (Shapes)• Cirrus- high, white, thin. Described as

feathery or wispy.

• Cumulus- white and puffy with flat base

• Stratus- cover the entire sky (or most of it). Grey clouds

Cirrus

Cumulus

Cumulus on a day when Bause gives too many notes

Stratus (typical MI cloud)

HEIGHT

• High-level Clouds (Cirro)– Above 6000 m– Made of ice

• Mid-level Clouds (Alto)– 2000-6000 m

• Low-level Clouds (Strato)– less than 2000

Cirrostratus• As the name sounds… High and Flat• fibrous or smooth cloud that covers much of the sky• Can produce a halo around the sun or moon

Cirrocumulus• White patches of cells or ripples.• Often called “mackerel sky”, similar to the design

on mackerel fish.

Altocumulus

• Sometimes hard to distinguish with cirrocumulus

• They should have a distinct outline because they are made of water, not ice

Altostratus

• Cover most or all of sky.

• Thicker than cirrostratus, no halos.

• Associated with warm fronts

Stratus• Thick layer of clouds covering most (or all)

of the sky. Cannot see the sun.

• Can produce rain

Stratocumulus• Low cumulus clouds covering most of the

sky

Nimbo or Nimbus

• Rain clouds

• Nimbostratus clouds produce moderate rain.

• Cover the entire sky and are low alt.

Clouds of Vertical Development (VDC’s)

• Do not fit into one height category. Can extend from low to high altitudes.

• 2 types cumulus and cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus (Anvil Heads)

• Sever weather producers (lightning, thunder, hail, high winds, tornadoes, flying cows).

• Caused by warm air rising.

The End!

Now, get the hail to work!