University:
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
Course:
AP Environmental Science
Academic year:

2014
Views:

165

Pages:

12
Author:

lervotikzen

Clouds and Precipitation Clouds and Precipitation Clouds • Clouds are masses of tiny water droplets or ice crystals. • There are different kinds of clouds. They can be classified by their features. • The water from clouds may fall to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, of hail (precipitation). How Clouds Form • Clouds form when water vapor in the air condenses (turns back into a liquid). • Warm air near Earth's surface holds water vapor. As the warm air rises, it moves into a cooler part of the atmosphere. Since cool air can’t hold much water vapor, the vapor condenses around dust particles in the air. • Tiny droplets of liquid water form. This can be ice crystals if the air is cold enough. Clouds are made of water droplets, ice crystals, or both. Types of Clouds • There are 3 main types of clouds including cirrus, stratus, and cumulus. • Observing these clouds can help you predict what type of weather is on the way. Stratus Clouds • Low, sheet-like gray clouds • Looks like a gray blanket covering the whole sky • Some stratus clouds can bring rain Cumulus Clouds • Puffy, often flat on the bottom • Seen in nice weather • Higher in the sky that stratus clouds • When these clouds become big and dark, they are called cumulonimbus, which bring rain, thunder, and lightning. Cirrus Clouds • The highest clouds • Look wispy, like feathers • Form where air is cold, so they are made up of ice crystals • Seen in fair weather, but rain often follows in a day or two Fog • Fog is a cloud at or near the ground. • Meteorologists will use the term visibility to tell how far you can see in fog (in miles). Precipitation • Precipitation is water that falls from the atmosphere; can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Let’s Review Review Sites • To learn more about clouds, click the links. – http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weatherclouds.htm – http://scied.ucar.edu/webweather/clouds/cloudmatching-game – http://www.funtrivia.com/html5/index.cfm?qid=3 2985 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt6AkP9nPw