Clouds Second Grade Science

1. CloudsSecond Grade Science By: Christy Gibson

2. Clouds • A cloud is composed of tiny water droplets (or ice crystals) that are suspended in the air. • If the droplets become large enough, they may be visible as a cloud or fog. • The process behind cloud formation is called condensation. • Clouds are referred to as either low, mid, or high-level clouds. • This classification depends on where they are in the troposphere.

3. Types of Clouds • Three main types: • Stratus • Cirrus • Cumulus • Variations/Combinations of the three: • Nimbostratus • Altocumulus • Altostratus • Cirrostratus • Cirrocumulus • Cumulonimbus

4. Types of Clouds • Stratus clouds are grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. • They look like fog that does not touch the ground. • People often confuse it for fog. • When a thick fog "lifts," or moves up, the result is a low stratus cloud. • Usually no precipitation falls from stratus clouds.

5. Stratus Clouds Low lying Stratus Fog

6. Types of Clouds • Nimbostratus clouds form a dark gray, "wet" looking cloudy layer. • This type of cloud is often associated with falling rain or snow that is falling continuously. • They often produce precipitation that is usually light to moderate.

7. Nimbostratus Clouds

8. Types of Clouds • Altocumulus clouds are middle level clouds that are made of water droplets. • They appear as gray, puffy masses, and sometimes roll out in parallel waves or bands. • If you see these clouds on a warm, humid summer morning it probably means thunderstorms may happen later in the afternoon.

9. Altocumulus Clouds

10. Types of Clouds • Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray middle level clouds. • These clouds usually fill up the entire sky. • In areas of the cloud that are thinner, the sun may be dimly visible as a round disk. • Altostratus clouds often form ahead of storms that will have precipitation that falls continuously.

11. Altostratus Clouds

12. Types of Clouds • Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds that get blown by high winds into long streamers. • They are considered "high clouds" and form above 20,000 feet. • Cirrus clouds usually move across the sky from west to east. • When you see them, it normally means fair to pleasant weather.

13. Cirrus Clouds

14. Types of Clouds • Cirrostratus cloudsare thinand sheet like clouds. • They often cover the entire sky. • They are so thin that you can see the sun and moon through them.

15. Cirrostratus Clouds

16. Types of Clouds • Cirrocumulus cloudslook like small, rounded white puffs or blobs. • The small waves, or ripples in the cirrocumulus sometimes resemble the scales of a fish. • If the sky is filled with cirrocumulus clouds it is sometimes referred to as a "mackerel sky."

17. Cirrocumulus clouds

18. Types of Clouds • Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds. • They sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton. • The bottom of each cloud is often flat. • The bottom may be only 330 feet above the ground. • The top of the cloud has rounded or billowing towers. • They grow upward. • They can turn into a giant cumulonimbus. • A giant cumulonimbus is a thunderstorm cloud. • These types of cumulonimbus clouds are typically grayish black. • Lightning, thunder, and even violent tornadoes are associated with the cumulonimbus.

19. Cumulus clouds Cumulonimbus

20. Questions?