Clouds

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Clouds

• What Are They?

Presentation by Rebecca Soltis
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How Do Clouds Form?

• Air is lifted into atmosphere as it warms
• The air pressure drops
• Water vapor in air is cooled below the dew point
  temperature
• Moisture from water vapor condenses on
  microscopic dust particles in air

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Cloud Formation Diagram
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Why Are There No Clouds In The Desert?

• Clouds are formed by moisture in the air
• There is little moisture in the desert air
• Clouds tend to form near bodies of water

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Why Are Clouds White?

• Water droplets are large
• Water particles reflect more light than air
  particles
• Water particles reflect all visible colors
• Humans see white clouds

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The Three Main Types
Click cloud type to view information

• Cumulus
• Stratus
• Cirrus

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Cumulus

• Looks like a heap of clouds
• Usually during good weather
• Flat bottoms and lumpy tops

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Stratus

• Uniform clouds that cover the sky
• Looks like fog in the sky
• Sometimes light rain or snow can come from
  stratus clouds

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Cirrus

• Thin, wispy clouds
• Very high in atmosphere
• Ice crystals formed from other
• clouds

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Other Types of Clouds

• Words are added to the three cloud types to
  indicate the level of the atmosphere
• Cumulonimbus
• Cirrostratus
• Cirrocumulus
• Altostratus
• Altocumulus
• Stratocumulus

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Cloud Activities

• Cloud Quiz Click on this link to test you
  knowledge about clouds. Then check your answers
  to see if you are correct by clicking the link
  below.
• Cloud Quiz Answers Check and see if your quiz
  answers are correct by clicking on this link.
• Cloud Lab Interested in making a cloud of your
  own? Click on this link to read an activity which
  you can do with materials you may have at home.

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Resources

• Brainy Betty
• Water Cycle - Cloud Formation
• Cloud Formation
• Clouds
• How Do Clouds Form?
• USA Weather