Cloud Types

1. Cloud Types

2. What are clouds? • A cloud is 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.

3. Cloud Names • Names of specific types of clouds are created by combining the name of the cloud's shape with the name of the cloud's height.

4. Cloud Classification Clouds are classified into a system that uses Latin words to describe the appearance of clouds as seen by an observer on the ground.

5. Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Clouds There are 3 main types of clouds: • Cumulus or fluffy clouds • Stratus or layered clouds • Cirrus or thin feathery clouds

6. Common Cloud Types

7. Common Cloud Types

8. Cirrus

9. Cirrus • The word cirrus comes from a Latin word and means a tuft or curl of hair. Cirrus clouds are very wispy and feathery looking.

10. Cirrus

11. Cirrus • The long stringy cirrus clouds are called "mares' tails."

12. CirrusHigh Level Clouds • High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) • Since the temperatures are so cold at such high elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals. • High-level clouds are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array of colors when the sun is low on the horizon.

16. Cirrus Clouds • Cirrus generally occur in fair weather and point in the direction of air movement at their elevation. • Cirrus clouds usually move across the sky from west to east.

17. Cirrus Clouds

18. Low Clouds = Stratus • Stratus • Stratocumulus • Nimbostratus

19. Stratus Clouds

20. Stratus Clouds Low clouds are of made of water droplets. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds may also contain ice particles and snow.

21. Stratus Clouds

22. Stratus Clouds

23. Stratus The word stratus comes from the Latin word that means "to spread out." Stratus clouds are horizontal, layered clouds that stretch out across the sky like a blanket.

24. Stratus Clouds • Stratus Clouds stretch across the sky in low, large flat layers. They resemble fog, but they do not reach the ground. They often produce mist or drizzle.

27. Fair Weather Cumulus

28. Cumulus Clouds

30. CumulusClouds • Fair weather cumulus have the appearance of large, puffy, floating cotton balls and have a lifetime of 5-40 minutes. • The word cumulus comes from the Latin word for a heap or a pile.

33. Cumulus Clouds • Harmless fair weather cumulus clouds can later develop into towering cumulonimbus clouds associated with powerful thunderstorms.

34. Cumulonimbus Clouds

35. Cumulonimbus Clouds • The clouds that produce heavy thunderstorms in summer are a form of cumulus clouds called cumulonimbus. • Cumulonimbus clouds are much larger and vertically developed than fair weather cumulus. • Cumulonimbus clouds may extend upward for hundreds of meters.