clouds Flashcards
how are clouds formed?
when water vapour in atmosphere turns into liquid water droplets.
Water droplets condense onto a nuclei particles like dust/salt floating in air
described through collision-coalescence and evaporation of supercooled water feeds snow crystal growth
why do lots of clouds form over ocean?
due to salt
different clouds reflect…
different amounts of energy
they emit radiation to space which depends on cloud temp
are higher clouds warm or cold?
cold as less radiation emitted
low pressure system
why are low clouds warm?
emit lots of thermal energy
high albedo - reflects a lot
what 2 factors are key to cloud classification?
altitude
shape
stratiform…
horizontally developed
flat
layered
cumuliform…
vertically developed
globular
puffy
cirroform…
high - lots of water vapour here
wispy
less thick
define stratus
continuous layer
often with rain
Uniform
Gray
define nimbo
dark grey clouds
rain cloud/ stormy
define cumulus
rounded heaped masses
low altitude
Define alto
Middle level clouds
Define cirro/cirrus
High clouds
Wispy
Feathery
Molly
Sun and moon haloes
List 3 low clouds
Stratus
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus
Stratocumulus
Soft
Globular masses
Waves / rolls
Over cast
Nimbostratus
Dark
Gray
Low
Frizzing rain
Low clouds height
Up to 2000m
Water
Name 2 middle clouds
Altocumulus
Altostratus
Height of middle cloud
2000-6000m
I’ve and water
Altostratus
Thin to thick
Suns outline just viable
Grey
Altocumulus
Cotton balls
Arranged in lines or groups
Rippling waves
Associated with mountains
Name 3 high clouds
Cirrus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus
Height of high clouds
6000-13,000m
Ice
