Clouds

Clouds are drops of water vapor which condense in the upper atmosphere.

The location and formation of the clouds, along with temperature

and wind speed help meteorologists to predict the weather.

There are ten main types of cloud formation:

		cirrus
	cirrostratus		cirrocumulus
	altostratus		altocumulus
		stratocumulus
stratus		nimbostratus	cumulonimbus	nimbus

Cirrus clouds are thin and feathery and are located high in the sky.  They are sometimes called "mares tails".  Cirrus clouds are associated with fair weather.

Cirrostratus clouds look like thin sheets.  They appear high in the sky and form a halo around the moon.  Cirrostratus clouds indicate rain or snow within the next 24 hours.

Cirrocumulus clouds are thin patchy clouds found high in the sky.  They often look like rippled tufts of cotton.  Cirrocumulus clouds usually mean fair weather, especially in the winter.

Altocumulus clouds are found in the middle of the sky.   These clouds look like big, unconnected puffs of cotton and appear in the summer.   When you see altocumulus clouds a summer thunderstorm is on its way.

Altostratus clouds are blue or gray in color and appear in the middle of the sky.  They form smooth sheets and the sun may shine through them.   Altostratus clouds mean snow or rain may occur in the next 6 to 8 hours.

Stratocumulus clouds appear low in the sky and are uneven.   They may have dark patches under them.  Stratocumulus clouds follow storms.

Stratus clouds are low in the sky and look like smooth and even sheets.  Stratus clouds indicate drizzle.

Nimbostratus clouds are low, smooth, and gray.  They are known as rain or snow clouds.  Nimbostratus clouds are sometimes hidden by the precipitation.

Cumulonimbus clouds are big and fluffy.  They occur at all levels of the atmosphere.  Cumulonimbus clouds accompany heavy rain, hail, and tornadoes.

Cumulus clouds are big, fluffy and look like cauliflower.   They may occur at all levels of the atmosphere. Cumulus clouds come before storms if they appear in the morning and come after storms if the appear in the afternoon.

These cloud photos were taken from the Plymouth State College Program in Meteorology.

For more information on clouds click on the web sites below.

www.whnt19.com/kidswx/index.html

http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/weather/pricloud/index.html

http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/weather/graphing/cldcover.html

www.lhric.org/pocantico/weather/weather.htm