Chapter 7

Clouds

• A cloud is a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, which forms when the warm air is cooled and condensation occurs when the water droplets stick together with dust particles in the air.

• Clouds are classified by form or shape, altitude and precipitation.

Section 1 Water in the Air

Chapter 7

Clouds, continued

•Three main cloud shapes: •Cumulus Clouds are puffy, white clouds that tend to have flat bottoms.

• Stratus Clouds are clouds that form in layers.

• Cirrus Clouds are thin, feathery, white clouds found at high altitudes.

Section 1 Water in the Air

Chapter 7

Clouds, continued

Section 1 Water in the Air

Chapter 7High Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-High cloud

-Blown by high winds into

long, thin wispy streamers

Made of ice crystals

-White

-Fair weather, but weather is about to change

Chapter 7

High Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

- Sheet like, thin, covers sky- Made of ice crystals-White-Appears before rain or snow storm-Signals that a warm front is approaching-Formed when a large layer of air is lifted

Chapter 7

High Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Small rounded puffs in long rows-Made of ice crystals-White or gray-Brings fair but cold weather-Signals that a cold front is approaching

Chapter 7

Middle Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Covers whole sky-Made of ice crystals or water droplets-Gray/blue gray sky-Brings storms with continuous rain or snow

Chapter 7

Middle Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Form in groups or parallel bands-Made of ice crystals or water droplets-grayish white, thick-Brings thunderstorms-Formed by convection-Cold front is approaching

Chapter 7

Low Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Blankets whole sky-Made of water droplets-Light gray-Light mist or drizzling rain or snow-Fog is an example, but forms at the ground-can be formed from the lifting of a thick fog

Chapter 7

Low Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Low, lumpy in rows or spread out with clear sky between them-Made of water droplets-Gray-Fair weather or a light drizzle

Chapter 7

Low Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Blankets sky, ragged base-Made with water droplets-Dark gray-Steady rain or snow

Chapter 7

Vertical Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Puffy, like cotton, with flat base-Made with water droplets or ice crystals-White means fair weather-Darker means light to heavy showers

Chapter 7

Vertical Clouds

Section 1 Water in the Air

-Thick, tall-Made of water droplets and ice crystals-White to gray-Rain, hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes-Referred to as thunderheads