Clouds Flashcards
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.
Clouds with vertical growth
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
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds associated with fair weather
Cumulus humilis
Cumulus clouds associated with bad weather
Cumulus congestus
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
Cumulonimbus
Form on the downside of the mountains. Seem to stay in one plays
Lenticular clouds
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
Kelvin-helmholtz
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.
Mamatus
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
Contrails
If the air is somewhat moist, it will form right behind the plane and make bright white line that lasts for a short while
Short lived contrails
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
Persistent nonspreading contrail
A persistent contrail spreads out that grow wider and fuzzier as time passes
Persistent spreading contrail
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
Nimbostratus
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
Clouds
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
High clouds
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
Cirrus clouds
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
Cirrostratus
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
Cirrocumulus
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
Middle clouds
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
Altostratus
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
Altocumulus
Consist of water droplets. Base is from the ground surface to 2000m.
Low clouds
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
Stratus clouds
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
Stratocumulus
