Clouds: by Jevelyn Sumalinog
Clouds: by Jevelyn Sumalinog
Clouds: by Jevelyn Sumalinog
by Jevelyn Sumalinog
CONDENSATION
Sunlight causes water to evaporate into the atmosphere. This air containing the water vapor is heated at the surface of
the earth and rises. As the air rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses on some form of particulate matter such as
dust, ash, or smoke to form clouds. The particulate matter are called Condensation Nuclei.
Importance of Clouds
So, what is a cloud?
~ It is a thick mass of suspended water drops or ice crystals.
~ made up of tiny water droplets and/or ice crystals, a snowflake
is a collection of many ice crystals, and rain is just liquid water.
Identifying Clouds
To better communicate and understand the many cloud forms in the sky,
meteorologists identify clouds based on five basic cloud characteristics:
1. The altitude at which they occur
2. Color
3. Density
4. Shape
5. Degree of cover.
From this information, we can identify three basic cloud types and seven
other common cloud types.
Stratus
Cirrus
Cumulus
Variations/Combinations of the
three:
Nimbostratus
Altocumulus
Altostratus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus
Cumulonimbus
Stratus Clouds
Stratus clouds are thin, sheet-like clouds. They are layered with some rippling, and cover large
portions of the sky. They are frequently gray and thick. Stratus clouds are formed when air is
forced up slowly.
Stratus Clouds
Fog
Types of Clouds
Nimbostratus clouds form a dark gray, "wet" looking
cloudy layer.
This type of cloud is often associated with falling rain or
snow that is falling continuously.
They often produce precipitation that is usually light to
moderate.
Nimbostratus Clouds
Types of Clouds
Altocumulus clouds are middle level clouds that are made
of water droplets.
They appear as gray, puffy masses, and sometimes roll out in
parallel waves or bands.
If you see these clouds on a warm, humid summer morning it
probably means thunderstorms may happen later in the
afternoon.
Altocumulus Clouds
Types of Clouds
Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray middle level
clouds.
These clouds usually fill up the entire sky.
In areas of the cloud that are thinner, the sun may be
dimly visible as a round disk.
Altostratus clouds often form ahead of storms that will
have precipitation that falls continuously.
Altostratus Clouds
Cirrus Clouds
Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds
with feathery appearance. that get
blown by high winds into long
streamers.
They are considered "high clouds"
and form above 20,000 feet.
Cirrus clouds usually move across
the sky from west to east.
When you see them, it normally
means fair to pleasant weather.
Cirrus Clouds
Types of Clouds
Cirrostratus clouds are thin and sheet like clouds.
They often cover the entire sky.
They are so thin that you can see the sun and
moon through them.
Cirrostratus Clouds
Types of Clouds
Cirrocumulus clouds look like small, rounded white
puffs or blobs.
The small waves, or ripples in the cirrocumulus
sometimes resemble the scales of a fish.
If the sky is filled with cirrocumulus clouds it is
sometimes referred to as a "mackerel sky."
Cirrocumulus clouds
Cumulus Clouds:
Cumulus clouds
Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus Clouds
As seen from Apollo 8
Cirro
High clouds: 7-18km
Cold: less than 25oC & made up of ice crystals
Cirrostratus: high, wispy clouds. They
give the sky a milky white appearance.
Alto
These clouds usually form from the gradual lifting of air in advance of a cold front.
Middle level clouds: 2-7 km
0-25oC & composed of both water and ice crystals
The presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by
thunderstorms later in the day.
Altostratus: thin, layered clouds that are blue-gray or
whitish in color and often cover large portions of the sky.
They are thinner if formed at higher altitudes but are
heavier and more dense if closer to the ground.
Strato
Low level clouds: 0 - 4 km
Greater than 5oC & composed of water
Fog
Fog : Clouds at ground level
Radiation fog: forms at night when cold ground cools the air above it (in valleys)
Advection fog: forms when warm, moist air moves over colder surface and cools (in coastal areas)
In this fog, off the coast of Oregon, a cold ocean current cools the air to the airs dew point temperature. This cooling
of the air created the fog. This is called:
Advection Fog
For the development of this fog, warm water is evaporating into cool air. The cool air becomes saturated (its relative
humidity becomes 100%) and condensation creates the fog. This is called:
Radiation Fog
Cold Air
Condensation
Evaporation
Warm Water
THE END