Air Masses and Clouds

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Air Masses and Clouds
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Air Masses

• Weather occurs when two different air masses
  interact with each other.
• An Air Mass is a parcel of air with a certain
  temperature and humidity.
• Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the
  air. At 100 humidity the air can not hold any
  more water, as a result it rains. Temperature and
  pressure affect humidity.

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Clouds

• Meteorologists classify clouds according to
  altitude, shape, and its potential for
  precipitation.
• There are 3 general cloud shapes
• Cirrus, Stratus, and Cumulus.

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Clouds

• 1. Cumulus A dense, white, fluffy, flat-based
  cloud with a multiple rounded top and a well
  defined outline.

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Clouds

• 2. Stratus A sheet like cloud formation
  consisting of a horizontal layer of gray clouds.

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Clouds

• 3. Cirrus A high-altitude cloud composed of
  narrow bands or patches of thin, generally white,
  fleecy parts.

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Clouds

• Either Stratus or Cumulus clouds may cause
  precipitation.
• Using the term nimbus combined with cloud the
  cloud shape name means the cloud carries rain.