Cloud Formation

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Cloud Formation
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How do Clouds form?

• Clouds form when water vapor in the air condenses
  to form liquid water or ice crystals.

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• Two conditions required for cloud formation
• Role of Cooling
• As air cools the amount of water vapor it can
  hold decreases.
• The water vapor then condenses into droplets of
  water.
• Temperature at which condensation begins is Dew
  Point.
• Role of Particles
• Tiny particles must be present to provide a
  surface for water to condense on.
• Most particles are salt crystals, dust from soil
  and smoke.

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Types of Clouds

• Prefix alto which means high, indicates
  height in the sky.
• Suffix nimbus which means rain, indicates
  can produce precipitation.
• Three Types Cirrus, Cumulus Stratus.

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Cirrus Clouds High

• Wispy, feathery clouds
• Form at high levels where temps are low about 6
  kilometers and up.
• Made of ice crystals.

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Cumulus Clouds- Middle

• Fluffy, rounded piles of cotton.
• From less than 2 kilometers above the ground
  (low) but can extend up to 18 kilometers high!
• Not very tall cumulus clouds Indicate fair
  weather.
• Towering cumulus clouds with flat tops are called
  cumulonimbus clouds, produce rain and
  thunderstorms.

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Stratus Clouds Low

• Flat layers of clouds
• Strato means spread out
• Cover all or most of the sky uniform dull, gray
  color.
• Found lowest to the ground (Under 2 kilometers)
• As they thicken produce drizzle, rain or snow.

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Forest Lake Fog!!!

• Clouds that form at or near the ground are called
  fog.
• Forms when the ground cools at night after a
  warm, humid day.