A Weather Predictor

UNDERSTANDING CLOUDS

Clouds are usually the most obvious feature of the sky. They reflect weather patterns and play a role in what the weather does. They are sources of precipitation as well as affect the temperatures of our atmosphere. Clouds block incoming sunlight during the day, which cools the air, but they can also block outgoing radiation from the Earth, which can warm temperatures.

WHAT ARE CLOUDS

Clouds are water, either small liquid water drops or tiny pieces of ice.

Meteorologists rank clouds according to their height and whether they are puffy or flat.

HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED

Clouds form when the air rises and evaporation and transpiration occurs.

As temperatures and air pressure drop, water droplets clump together causing condensation or a cloud.

When the droplets are too heavy to float in the air they fall to the ground in the form of rain or snow called, precipitation.

CLOUD CLASSIFICATION

• Cirrus-high level clouds that have bases below 7,000 feet

• Cumulus- mid-level clouds that have bases between 7000-18,000 feet

• Stratus-low level clouds that have bases below 6,500 feet

• Vertical-tallest of all clouds that can go up to 60,000 feet.

CIRRUS• High altitude and

wispy• Composed of ice

crystals• Thin with hairlike

strands• Some have a wavelike appearance• Some have a sheetlike appearance• Are usually thin

allowing moonlight and sun to shine through

CUMULUS

• Contains ice crystals or rain• Usually puffy• Noticeable vertical development• Have popcorn appearance• Can be widely scattered or clumped• Appears thick

STRATUS

• Lowest of the low clouds

• Appear as an overcast, but can be scattered

• Can be in layers

VERTICALLY FORMED CLOUDS

Can produce lightning, heavy rains, hail, strong winds, and tornados. They are the tallest of all clouds and have an anvil shaped top due to the stronger winds at those altitudes.