But beware, clouds change and move quickly based on many factors so dont be surprised if a rain storm pops up on a sunny day. Clouds are an important part of the earths weather and climate. Remember that there is a range within each cloud type and the clouds you see in. Altostratus clouds are midlevel, sheetlike clouds that are bluish gray and cover the. Clouds are made up of very light water droplets or ice crystals. Many water droplets formed together scatter reflect sunlight and you see a white could, but with a dark or gray cloud, the sunlight is scattered in all directions instead of reflected. The types of clouds are determined based on what they look like and how high they are in the atmosphere. Types of clouds cirrus, cumulus, stratus, nimbus upsc. In addition to cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and nimbus clouds, there are cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, and cumulonimbus clouds. Tips for identifying different types of clouds even meteorologists can sometimes struggle with identifying certain clouds, so it helps to have a few tricks to fall back on. Here is a great lesson plan focusing on different types of clouds, how they are formed, and what they indicate about the weather.
Nov 16, 2009 there are three basic types of clouds. Some clouds are puffy like cotton while others are grey and uniform. High clouds cirrus detached clouds in the form of white, delicate filaments, mostly white patches or narrow bands. Your aircraft manual most likely lists recommended. Some clouds you see in the sky might be from airplanes. Since these clouds are so far from the ground, they arent often affected by the changing weather on the earths surface. How to identify 10 fundamental cloud types infographic. Even meteorologists can sometimes struggle with identifying certain clouds, so it helps to have a few tricks to fall back on. Also, write the types of clouds shown in each photo. Objective draw and describe the basic types of clouds. Learn about each type of cloud with this article and illustration. In this book, ill explain some of the basic cloud types and show you some of the clouds ive observed outside my window at the national weather service office in gray, maine. Cirrus clouds are also spread out in patches, with large breaks of the sky in between them. These clouds appear frequently in the atmosphere, either ahead of or behind a frontal system.
Winds helped carry the cloud particles all over the globe, and during this period the overall climate of the earth cooled. The types of clouds are determined based on what they look like and how high they are in the. Name two types of clouds that are between 20,000 and 6,500 feet. This means, layer, and describes just that type of appearance, layered sheets of clouds.
Most clouds can be described by mixing and matching the terms cirrus, cumulus. A student project idea for observing and identifying clouds. He noticed that clouds often have features of two or more categories. Brainstorming o the teacher will discuss with the students the characteristics of the three basic types of clouds. The 10 basic types of clouds and how to recognize them. Knowing the multiple variations of these clouds, their latin names and affixes, and the altitudes where they happen make cloud identification simple. The different types of clouds are named based on their shape and how high up they hover in the troposphere. The present international system of latinbased cloud classification dates back to 1803, when amateur meteorologist luc howard wrote the essay on the modification of clouds. Stratus clouds are uniform and flat, producing a gray layer of cloud cover which may be precipitationfree or may cause periods of.
According to their height, expanse, density and transparency or opaqueness clouds are grouped under four types. A guided or openinquiry activity important considerations in predicting the weather are collected weather data, the current wind direction, and the observable cloud types. The main types of clouds live in the lowest part of the atmosphere, closest to the ground. Types of clouds worksheets printable the relaxed homeschool. The international cloud atlas currently recognizes ten basic cloud genera, which are defined according to where in the sky they form and their approximate appearance.
The characteristic tablecloth forms when the clouds reach the warmer, lower air layers and dissolve once more. Clouds are divided into 10 basic types genera, depending on their general form as you can see bellow. Cloud project observe the types of clouds that appear outside each day for a week. The ten types are divided up into many other species and varieties. In modern times, we understand that clouds represent the basic building blocks to our weather. Picture illustrates the different types of clouds stratus, cumulonimbus, cirrus, etc. Though they vary in shape and size, all clouds are. Many water droplets formed together scatter reflect sunlight and you see a white could, but with a dark or gray cloud, the sunlight is scattered in all. His research served as the starting point for the ten basic types of clouds we. Cirrus clouds are always composed of ice crystals, and their transparent character depends upon the degree of separation of the crystals. Some clouds are near the ground, while others are near the top of the troposphere.
Knowing the different types of clouds, when youll see them, and how they form, can help you determine what kind of weather is coming. Cloud formation can be classified as low, medium, high and vertical. They may have a fibrous hairlike andor silky sheen appearance. These drops stick to dusk and other tiny particles in the air. You may have noticed from the last section on the different kinds of nimbus clouds, that different clouds types exist beyond just cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and nimbus. High level cirrus clouds may travel at speeds up to 100 mph. An ongoing project where participants photograph, observe and identify clouds compiling a scrapbook. Many water droplets formed together scatter reflect sunlight and you see a white could, but with a dark or. Participants will take photos of cloud or other weather using the cloud data sheet. Kids should be able to look up in the sky and understand when a storm may be coming or why there arent any clouds in the atmosphere. The many variations, however, can be grouped into one of 10 basic types depending on their general shape and height in the sky.
Youve learned about nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds, so lets go over some of the other kinds. The clouds are warmer because as the water vapor cools and turns back into water droplets, it releases a small amount of heat. Use the following four tips to help you differentiate the various cloud types and figure out which type is currently in the sky. There are many different types of clouds that can be seen. If you choose to photograph the clouds, print out your photos.
Learn more about importance, types and classification of clouds based on their physical forms and altitude of formation. Aug, 2018 these clouds are generally described as puffy or like cotton. This splits clouds into three main types stratus, cumulus and cirrus. Over the past several pages, an examination and involvement with using. The diagram on the right shows where different types of clouds are located in the sky. Common core alignment can be viewed by clicking the common core. The formation of different types of clouds depends on the speed of the ascending air current. Observe the types of clouds that appear outside each day for a week. Cloud types and formation of clouds related subject.
The higher elevation and winds cause them to be wispier. Clouds are continually changing and appear in an infinite variety of forms. There are two types of middle clouds, both called alto clouds. Basic cumulus clouds are early stages of cloud life and usually low in the atmosphere, later transforming into other types of clouds.
Most clouds can be divided into groups highmiddlelow based on the height of the clouds base above the earths surface. Small portion of student generated powerpoint of 5 cloud types. A cloud is a visible accumulation of minute droplets of wate, ice crystals, or both, suspended in the air. Each cloud is different and has a different story to tell. Even though clouds float in the air, a single cumulus cloud can weigh hundreds of tons. Jun 30, 2017 to learn about different cloud types and characteristics, you must pay attention to shape, size, color and cloud formation to identify which type of cloud it is. Most clouds can be divided into groups highmiddlelow based on the height of the cloud s base above the earths surface. By knowing three basic types of clouds, youre well on your way to understanding which clouds will bring rain and what clouds will just drift by.
Detailed lesson plan in science iii basic types of clouds. An 8 slide powerpoint that explains what clouds are and the 4 basic types cloud note sheet make a cloud activity using cotton balls draw the weather activity teacher notes. Classifying clouds world meteorological organization. What type of clouds are called fair weather clouds and look like floating cotton. Stratocumulus also can be thought of as a layer of cloud clumps with thick and thin areas. Although it isnt necessary for younger students to know the exact names for the different types of clouds, they do have to recognize and predict the type of weather that is associated with certain clouds. Based on his observations, luke howard suggested there were modifications or combinations of the core four clouds between categories. Detailed lesson plan in science iii basic types of clouds 1.
How can these cloud types be used to predict the weather. Altostratus clouds are strato type clouds see below that possess a flat and uniform. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The clouds outside my window whether im outdoors or just looking outside, i like to observe the clouds.
Types of clouds complete lesson help your students learn the 4 basic types of clouds. According to the world meteorological organizations international cloud atlas, more than 100 types of clouds exist. Clouds are warmer than the air around them so they are able to float because warm air is lighter than cool air. The two main types of low clouds include stratus, which develop horizontally, and cumulus, which develop vertically. Cirrus are thin, featherlike ice crystal clouds in patches or narrow bands. When warm air rises, swells and cools, it forms clouds. In this activity, kids build a cloud finder and identify what clouds they see outside. Types of clouds types of clouds by rtphokie information graphics, visual representations of data known as infographics, keep the web going being able to predict the weather using the clouds is an ancient skill that can help anyone stay dry while stranded in unfamiliar territory. Clouds are classified according to their height above and appearance texture from the ground. As you probably already have observed, different types of. Mar 14, 2017 rubrics in drawing and describing the types of clouds. Can draw and describe the types of clouds based on their characteristics through differentiated activities with minimal errors. This is a pdf file, so you need to have adobe acrobat reader. The clouds outside my window national weather service.
Highlevel clouds midlevel clouds lowlevel clouds vertical clouds highlevel clouds are formed in altitudes above 20,000 feet. Cirrus clouds often mean fair weather too, but they do not look like cotton. Then, write the dates to show when each picture was taken. Clouds are given different names based on their shape and their height in the sky. Detailed lesson plan in science iii grade iiiarts i. Dont forget to check out the classification aid for highlevel, middlelevel and lowlevel clouds. Each day, photograph or draw the types of clouds you see in the sky. These clouds form in flat sheets, so they arent as thick as the other types of clouds. The different types of clouds are cumulus, cirrus, stratus and nimbus.