Clouds

1. Clouds By: CeCe, Maggie, and Jordan First Period

2. How are clouds formed? Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams as well as small pools of water. Air has to be a little bit dirty for a cloud to form. High amounts of humidity helps form clouds. Clouds are formed when water vapor condenses on tiny dust particles.

3. Cirrus Clouds The word Cirrus is Latin for “curl.” Cirrus clouds look like little white curls in the sky. Cirrus clouds are very high and are made out of ice crystals. Crystals fall from these cold clouds sometimes. High level clouds are above 20,000 feet and since temperatures are so cold at such high elevations, they are primarily composed of ice crystals. They normally are white and thin, but can appear in majestic colors at sunset. Alto means high.

4. Cirrus Clouds continued… The height of cirrus clouds is: above 18,000 feet. When cirrus clouds are in lines that look like cotton balls, it means a storm is on the way. Cirrus clouds are a sign that it might rain or snow in the next few days. Cirrus clouds are made of tiny ice crystals.

5. Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are single, billowy globs that are low, have flat bases and look like a cauliflower. Height of Cumulus clouds: below 6,000 feet. Cumulus clouds have sharp outlines and a flat base. Cumulus clouds are usually a sign of good weather. Cumulus clouds are made of liquid water vapor. Cumulus, altocumulus, and cirrocumulus are all puffy clouds. Cumulus cloud cell are about the size of your fist ,or sometimes a little bit larger.

6. Stratus Clouds Stratus clouds are layered and they can cover the whole sky. If you see the stratus clouds broken up in the sky, they are called stratocumulus clouds. When stratus clouds are very thick, they get dark like nimbostratus clouds, which can produce rain, snow, or drizzle. Cirrostratus clouds can bend the light from the sun. Stratus clouds are flat. Nimbostratus are dark, low level clouds, they either produce rain, or snow.

7. Stratus Clouds continued They are a dull, uniform gray and fill up most of the sky. Stratus clouds are made of tiny ice crystals. Mid level: contain liquid H2O during summer, liquid ice crystal mix in the winter.

8. Latin meanings Strato- covering or blanket Cirro- sheet, nearly transparent. Cirrus- curl of hair. Cumulus- heap Nimbo- dark, low-level rain cloud Nimbus- rain

9. Cumulonimbus Clouds A cumulonimbus cloud is a type of cloud that is tall, dense, and involved in thunder-storms and other intense weather. Low level: Composed of liquid H2O but able to contain ice crystals in cold weather.

10. Types of Cumulus clouds Cirrocumulus clouds form when moist air at high altitudes reach saturation creating ice crystals . Cirrocumulus lenticularis are lens shaped clouds. Cirrocumulus lacunosus are cirrocumulus with large holes. Cirrocumulus castellanus are cirrocumulus with towers.

11. Conclusion We hope you enjoyed our presentation on cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds.Stratus clouds are layered and they can cover the whole sky. Cirrus clouds resemble curls, and are very high and made of ice crystals. Cumulus clouds are single, billowy globs that are low, have flat bases and look like a cauliflower.

12. Bibliography Ask Kids Weather for Kids Wikipedia Pictures of Clouds