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Cloud Types Key Concepts
Useful Links
This website includes how clouds form, cloud types, and a cloud matching game.
Clouds. (2015). Center for Science Education. Retrieved October 25, 2015 |
This website describes how clouds are formed, the cloud types, and storm clouds.
Clouds. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved October 25, 2015. |
This website includes where the different types of clouds are in the sky, high, mid, or low. It then gives a description of each of the clouds in that location.
Ten Basic Cloud Types. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2015. |
Words to Know:
Cumulus Clouds: Puffy clouds that look like a pieces of floating cotton. The top of the cloud has rounded towers and has a flat base. These kind of clouds may be only 1000 meters above the ground. When the top of the cloud looks like a cauliflower, it is called a cumulus congestus or a towering cumulus. These clouds can grow upward and become a thunderstorm cloud.
Source: http://socratic.org/questions/what-are-cumulus-clouds-and-what-do-they-suggest-about-atmospheric-conditions
Cumulonimbus Clouds: These are thunderstorm clouds that form if congested cumulus clouds continue to grow vertically. At times, the dark base of the cloud may be only 30 meters above the ground. Energy is released from the cloud through condensation of water vapor.
Source: https://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cumulus.html
Stratus: A genus of low-level clouds characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base. Stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds varying from dark gray to white in color. If Stratus clouds touch the ground, the clouds are then considered fog. Stratus clouds form rain when it is warm and snow when it is cold.
Source: http://quatr.us/physics/weather/stratus.htm
Cirrus: Thin, wispy clouds that form 18,000 feet above the ground. These clouds move east to west in the sky and indicate that there will be good weather.
Source: http://quatr.us/physics/weather/cirrus.htm
Condensation: the conversation of gas or vapor to a liquid, responsible for the formation of clouds, the opposite of evaporation (liquid changes to a gas)
Precipitation: Clouds floating in the sky contain water vapor (water in its gaseous state) and small drops of condensed water. As condensation occurs, the water droplets will collide and continue to grow, then it will fall out of the cloud if the collision creates a fall velocity that is greater than the cloud updraft speed. Rain, snow, or sleet that falls to the ground.
Source: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclecondensation.html
Cumulus Clouds: Puffy clouds that look like a pieces of floating cotton. The top of the cloud has rounded towers and has a flat base. These kind of clouds may be only 1000 meters above the ground. When the top of the cloud looks like a cauliflower, it is called a cumulus congestus or a towering cumulus. These clouds can grow upward and become a thunderstorm cloud.
Source: http://socratic.org/questions/what-are-cumulus-clouds-and-what-do-they-suggest-about-atmospheric-conditions
Cumulonimbus Clouds: These are thunderstorm clouds that form if congested cumulus clouds continue to grow vertically. At times, the dark base of the cloud may be only 30 meters above the ground. Energy is released from the cloud through condensation of water vapor.
Source: https://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cumulus.html
Stratus: A genus of low-level clouds characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base. Stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds varying from dark gray to white in color. If Stratus clouds touch the ground, the clouds are then considered fog. Stratus clouds form rain when it is warm and snow when it is cold.
Source: http://quatr.us/physics/weather/stratus.htm
Cirrus: Thin, wispy clouds that form 18,000 feet above the ground. These clouds move east to west in the sky and indicate that there will be good weather.
Source: http://quatr.us/physics/weather/cirrus.htm
Condensation: the conversation of gas or vapor to a liquid, responsible for the formation of clouds, the opposite of evaporation (liquid changes to a gas)
Precipitation: Clouds floating in the sky contain water vapor (water in its gaseous state) and small drops of condensed water. As condensation occurs, the water droplets will collide and continue to grow, then it will fall out of the cloud if the collision creates a fall velocity that is greater than the cloud updraft speed. Rain, snow, or sleet that falls to the ground.
Source: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclecondensation.html
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