Clouds Flashcards

1
Q

Include cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds grow high up into the atmosphere rather than spreading across the sky. They span all levels of the troposphere and can even rise up into the stratosphere.

A

Clouds with vertical growth

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2
Q

Puffy white or light gray clouds that look like floating cotton balls. Have sharp outline and flat base. Can be associated with good or bad weather

A

Cumulus clouds

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3
Q

Cumulus clouds associated with fair weather

A

Cumulus humilis

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4
Q

Cumulus clouds associated with bad weather

A

Cumulus congestus

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5
Q

Generally kniwn as the thunderstorm clouds. Can grow up to 10km high. At this height, high winds will. Flatten the top of the cloud out into an anvil like shape

A

Cumulonimbus

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6
Q

Form on the downside of the mountains. Seem to stay in one plays

A

Lenticular clouds

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7
Q

Look like breaking waves in the ocean. Theses clouds form when there is a difference in the wind speed or direction between two win currents in the atmosphere

A

Kelvin-helmholtz

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8
Q

Usually seen with cumulonimbus clouds that produce very strong storms. Are pouches of clouds that hang underneath the base of a cloud. Sometimes described as looking like a field of tennis balls or melons, or like female human breasts.

A

Mamatus

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9
Q

The white streaks you see coming off high flying jet airplanes, short for condensation trails. Formed when water vapor condenses and freezes around small particles that exist un aircraft exhaust

A

Contrails

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10
Q

If the air is somewhat moist, it will form right behind the plane and make bright white line that lasts for a short while

A

Short lived contrails

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11
Q

If the air is very moist, a contrail will form behind an airplane and can last for a few minutes or longer than a day

A

Persistent nonspreading contrail

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12
Q

A persistent contrail spreads out that grow wider and fuzzier as time passes

A

Persistent spreading contrail

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13
Q

Dark gray with a ragged base. Associated with continous rain or snow. Sometimes they cover the whole sky and you can’t see the edges of the cloud

A

Nimbostratus

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14
Q

Small water droplets or tiny ice crystals that float in the air. Formed when temperature of the air is below the dew point. White in color because droplets and crystals scatter sunlight. Appeared gray when blocking sunlight

A

Clouds

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15
Q

Made of ice crystals due to cold air in the upper sky. The base can be anywhere from 6000-1800pm in the tropics to 3000-8000m in the polar regions

A

High clouds

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16
Q

Most common of the high cloud. Composed entirely of ice and consists of long, thin. Wispy streamers. Commonly known as “MARE’S TAILS” +. Usually white and predict fsir weather

A

Cirrus clouds

17
Q

They are sheet like thin clouds that usually cover yhe entire sky. Sun or moon can shine through but sometimes appear to have halo. Usually come 12-24 hours before a rain or snow storm

A

Cirrostratus

18
Q

Small rounded puffs that usually appear in long rows. Usually white butsometimes appear gray. If these clouds cover a lot of the sky, it is called a “mackerel sky”. Usually seen in the winter and indicste fair but cold weather

A

Cirrocumulus

19
Q

Consist od altostratus and altocumulus clouds. Made of ice crystals and water droplets. Base can be anywhere from 2000-8000m in the tropics to 2000-4000m in the polar regions

A

Middle clouds

20
Q

Usually covers the whole sky and has a gray or blue gray appearance. The sun or moon may shine through but will appear watery otr fuzzy. Forms ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow

A

Altostratus

21
Q

They are grayish white with one part of the cloud darker than the other. Usually form in groups and are about 1km thick. If you see this on a warm humid morning, then expect thunderstorms by late afternoon

A

Altocumulus

22
Q

Consist of water droplets. Base is from the ground surface to 2000m.

A

Low clouds

23
Q

They are uniform gray in color and can cover most or all of the sky. Can look like a fog that does not reach the ground. Light mist or drizzle is sometimes associated with this type of cloud

A

Stratus clouds

24
Q

Belong to the low cloud group. Are low, lumpy, and gray. These clouds can looklike cells under a microscope. Only light precipitation, generally in the form of drizzle, occurs

A

Stratocumulus