Weather Part 3 The Clouds

Clouds form when the air temperature cools and causes water vapor in the air to condense into tiny drops of water.

As you can see, there are many different types of clouds As you can see, there are many different types of clouds. They form as high as 40,000 feet and as low as 1 foot.

There are three basic types of clouds, cirrus, stratus, and cumulous.

CIRRUS CLOUDS - These high altitude clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals. These are wispy clouds like tissue paper or curls of hair.

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

These clouds are called stratus clouds These clouds are called stratus clouds. These are the gray clouds you see on rainy days.

STRATUS CLOUDS form a low layer of dark gray clouds; they form along warm fronts and can bring light rain or snow showers.

CUMULUS CLOUDS – These puffy cottonball clouds begin to form when water droplets condense at middle altitudes.

Cumulus clouds signify a change in the weather.

These clouds can become cumulonimbus clouds These clouds can become cumulonimbus clouds. These occur when a cold front moves through.

Photo by Herbert Campbell NOAA Central Library /NWS CUMULONIMBUS are the towering clouds you see just before it rains. These are where the thunderstorms form.

Identify the following types of clouds QUIZ TIME Identify the following types of clouds

Cirrus Clouds Cumulus Clouds Cumulonimbus Stratus Clouds Wispy Clouds 1. 2. Wispy Clouds Cotton Balls Cirrus Clouds Cumulus Clouds Towering Storm Clouds 4. 3. Grey/Icky Cumulonimbus Stratus Clouds