1. Clouds and Cloud Formation
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

2. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
What is a cloud?
Clouds: groups of tiny water drops.
Air rises
Air cools
Air condenses
CLOUDS FORM WHEN:
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

3. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
4 Ways to get air to rise.
Convection
Warm air rises.
Orographic Lifting
Air rises up over a mountain.
Frontal Lifting
A cold front lifts air up as it moves.
Convergence
Wind hits from opposite directions and goes up.
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

4. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Convective Lifting
Air
BACK
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

5. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Orographic Lifting
Air
BACK
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

6. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Frontal Lifting
Cold
Air
Warm
Air
BACK
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

7. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Convergence
Air
Air
BACK
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

8. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Air cools when it expands
Air
Air
Air
Air
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

9. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Cooling air causes it to Condense
The temperature when condensation begins is called the Dewpoint Temperature.
Air cools by expanding.
Cooling air increases Relative Humidity.
Air becomes full of water } SATURATED
Water condenses out of the air. GAS  LIQUID
Clusters of water drops are called clouds.
Dust and salt in the atmosphere are examples of condensation nuclei
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

10. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Summary: Cloud Formation
AIR
CONDENSES
AIR RISES
AIR COOLS
Convection
Orographic Lifting
Frontal Lifting
Convergence
By expanding
Cools to the dewpoint and water vapor condenses.
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom