Clouds A brief guide on clouds types, cloud observing, and time.

Have you ever looked at clouds and wondered if they had names? Luke Howard did over 200 years ago. Luke Howard did over 200 years ago. He decided that clouds could be classified into three main categories. He decided that clouds could be classified into three main categories. He used Latin to name the clouds. He used Latin to name the clouds.

Three main cloud types Cirrus (Latin for Curl) Cirrus (Latin for Curl) –means hair and describes wispy looking clouds. This term is also used to describe high level clouds Cumulus (Latin for heap) Cumulus (Latin for heap) –means pile and describes heaped, lumpy clouds Stratus (Latin for layer) Stratus (Latin for layer) –means layer and describes clouds that form in sheets and do not have any unique features

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball)

You’ve learned the basic types of clouds…let’s get go on to deluxe clouds. Nimbus (Latin for Rain) Nimbus (Latin for Rain) –use this term only when a cloud actually produces precipitation Alto Alto – describes mid-level clouds Pictures from

Let’s combine names. Cirrocumulus Cirrocumulus –Can best be described as a high cloud that resembles fish scales

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale)

Stratocumulus Stratocumulus –Best described as a cloud accident or puffy bottoms Let’s combine names.

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident)

Nimbostratus Nimbostratus –Looks like a stratus cloud but it is producing precipitation Let’s combine names.

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident) Nimbostratus (low blanket with lots of rain)

Altocumulus Altocumulus – Mid-level cloud –Described as flocks of sheep or streets of clouds Let’s combine names. Altostratus Altostratus –Mid-level cloud –Light gray layer –Light behind the clouds Pictures from

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident) Nimbostratus (low blanket with lots of rain) Altocumulus (Streets of clouds, flock of sheep) flock of sheep) Altostratus (Light grey, light behind clouds)

Let’s combine names. Cirrostratus Cirrostratus –High-level cloud –Thin veil of clouds –Produces a sun or moon halo

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident) Nimbostratus (low blanket with lots of rain) Altocumulus (Streets of clouds, flock of sheep) Altostratus (Light grey, light behind clouds) Cirrostratus (Thin, veil,sun/moon halo)

Let’s combine names. Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus Thunderclouds Storm makers Produce lightening and thunder

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident) Nimbostratus (low blanket with lots of rain) Altocumulus (Streets of clouds, flock of sheep) Altostratus (Light grey, light behind clouds) Cirrostratus (Thin, veil,sun/moon halo) Cumulonimbus (Thunderstorm clouds)

Man-made clouds Contrails Contrails –Short for condensation trails. –Made by airplanes –3 types Short lived Short lived Persistent Persistent Spreading Spreading Pictures from

(Wispy, Horse tail) Cirrus Stratus (Layered, Flat) Cumulus (Cotton Ball) Cirrocumulus (Fish Scale) Stratocumulus (Puffy bottoms, cloud accident) Nimbostratus (low blanket with lots of rain) Altocumulus (Streets of clouds, flock of sheep) Altostratus (Light grey, light behind clouds) Cirrostratus (Thin, veil,sun/moon halo) Cumulonimbus (Thunderstorm clouds) ContrailsShort-livedPersistent Persistent Spreading

Imagine this picture represents a certain number of clouds in the sky !

Be ready with an answer in 5 seconds !

Write your guess down your white board and hold it up high.

LET’S OBSERVE! Let’s make an observation on what we see on this beautiful day! What cloud types are present? What’s the percentage of cloud cover? How much light penetrates the clouds?

Time Terms Local Standard Time Local Standard Time –The time established for a region by law, or general use - it's the time you see on a correctly set clock, if you're not in daylight savings time (summer)

Time Terms 24 hour Time or Military Time 24 hour Time or Military Time –In military time, the hours are numbered from 00 to 23. –Under this system, midnight is 00, 1 a.m. is 01, 1 p.m. is 13, and so on. Try it: 2:30 pm Try it: 2:30 pm An event occurs on Wednesday at 0001 PST. This translates to one minute past midnight PST on Wednesday morning. An event occurs on Wednesday at 0001 PST. This translates to one minute past midnight PST on Wednesday morning. 6:11 a.m. is the same as 0611 (or 06:11) military time. 6:11 a.m. is the same as 0611 (or 06:11) military time. 13:17:42 military time is the same as forty-two seconds past 1:17 in the afternoon. 13:17:42 military time is the same as forty-two seconds past 1:17 in the afternoon.

Time Terms Universal Time or What time is it in Greenwich, England Universal Time or What time is it in Greenwich, England –Standard time at longitude = 0 (the longitude line which goes through Greenwich, England) which is used as a standard around the world to assist in synchronizing data collection.

Time Terms Universal Time Offset and Conversion Universal Time Offset and Conversion Current Universal Time (UT): 21:04 Current Universal Time (UT): 21:04 1. Write down current local time: ___h ___m 2. Add 7 hours (We are 7 hours behind UT) ____h ____ m 3. Convert to 24 hour clock: ___h ___m