Water from the earth evaporates and becomes water vapor. When the water vapor gets high enough where the air meets the dew point, it condenses with particles of salt, dust and smoke. Clouds are formed in any altitude in the troposphere. When temperature is above freezing, clouds are made from water droplets. When the temperature is below freezing, clouds are a combination of snow crystals and water that is cooled below 0 degrees celcius without freezing. When these supercooled droplets come in contact with ice, they form snow and ice crystals. The are four types of clouds: low clouds, middle clouds, high clouds, and clouds that are developed vertically.
Below are six clouds that you can find more information about. You can scroll down, or click on the post to the right for specific information.
Eric Chan
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cumulonimbus
Height: These clouds build in a vertical direction.
Shape: These are flat, dark puffy clouds. These are the worst clouds you can have.
Color: Cumulonimbus clouds are dark and black clouds.
Weather: The worst weather happens when there are cumulonimbus clouds in the sky. The weather is severe.
Source for picture: http://www.scienceclarified.com/images/uesc_03_img0136.jpg
Stratocumulus
Height: These clouds, similar to the nimbostratus clouds can be found below 2000 meters.
Shape: These clouds appear puffy and lumpy. These clouds cover the whole sky.
Color: White
Weather: It is usually cool or a light shower when there are stratocumulus clouds in the sky.
Source for picture: http://www.colby.edu/cpse/equipment2/highclouds/sc.jpg
Nimbostratus
Height: These clouds are very low, they are found below 2000 meters.
Shape: Mean looking clouds.
Color: These are dark rain clouds.
Weather: Rain or snow is often when there is nimbostratus clouds.
Stratus
Height: These types of clouds can be found below 2000 meters.
Shape: Stratus clouds are layered, an example would be fog.
Color: Stratus clouds are gray in color.
Weather: With Stratus clouds the weather is usually overcast and can be drizzling.
Source for picture: http://mal.sbo.hampton.k12.va.us/mangus/mangus_images/stratus.JPG
Pleasant Valley Park
Altocumulus
Height: This type of cloud is found between 2000 and 7000 meters high. It is found in the middle.
Shape: Altocumulus clouds are similar to cirrocumulus clouds but it is thicker.
Color: Not as pure white as cirrocumulus clouds.
Weather: It is usually fair, cool weather with altocumulus clouds.
Source for picture: http://www.maltaweather.info/altocumulus.jpg
Cirrocumulus
Height: These clouds are found over 7000 meters.
Shape: They are puffy, they look like thin white layers. They look like patches of cotton.
Color: White
Weather: windy and fair weather
Source for picture: http://mapmaker.meteor.wisc.edu/~jbrunner/ackerman/sm-clouds/cirrocumulus.jpg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)