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Clouds

Clouds. Cloud Formation. Condensation - water vapor gathers and forms water droplets or ice crystals (deposition) 1) Warm air rises taking along vapor, cools and condenses 2) Molecules (dust, salt, ash – condensation nuclei ) combine with water vapor and form droplets. Where clouds form.

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Clouds

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  1. Clouds

  2. Cloud Formation • Condensation - water vapor gathers and forms water droplets or ice crystals (deposition) • 1) Warm air rises taking along vapor, cools and condenses • 2) Molecules (dust, salt, ash – condensation nuclei) combine with water vapor and form droplets

  3. Where clouds form • Word parts indicate where clouds form and describe appearance • Strato – layered clouds, usually form below 6,500 feet • Cumulo – fluffy clouds that grow upward • Alto - between 6,500 and 20,000 feet • Cirro – feathery clouds forming above 20,000 feet • Nimbo– refer to dark rain clouds

  4. Where clouds form

  5. High Level Clouds • Bases above 20,000 ft (7,000 m) • Composed of ice crystals • Types: Cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus

  6. High level clouds:Cirrus Clouds • Thin, wispy, and fibrous, hair-like in appearance • Indicate fair weather

  7. High level clouds • Cirrocumulus –extremely high • Occur before snowfall, made entirely of ice • Cirrostratus – indicate snow or rain, blanket sky • Produce halos around Sun and moon

  8. Middle level clouds • Bases between 6,500 and 20,000 ft • Associated with light precipitation • Contain ice crystals and/or water droplets • Types: Altocumulus and Altostratus

  9. Middle level clouds: Altocumulus • Puffy with noticeable height piling upward • Commonly followed by thunderstorms

  10. Middle level clouds: Altostratus • More uniform coverage, still layered • Gray or bluish in color • Indicates an approaching thunderstorm or cyclone

  11. Low Level Clouds • Bases lie below 6,500 ft (2,000 m) • Mostly water droplets • Some ice crystals in cold climates • Types: Nimbostratus, Cumulonimbus, Stratocumulus, Stratus, and fog

  12. Low level clouds • Nimbostratus • Dark gray, layered clouds • Produce steady rain • Cumulonimbus • Also low level, but produce heavy rain, thunder, lightning, or hail

  13. Low level clouds: Stratus Clouds • Substantial, flat or layered • Appear before thunderstorms, but produce little precipitation • Usually the lowest • Appear overcast

  14. Low level clouds: Stratocumulus • Layers of puffy clouds, flat on top • Often cover sky in winter • Can produce precipitation

  15. Low level clouds:Fog • “Cloud” that is touching the ground • Becomes stratus when it lifts

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