mr. deakin - clouds terms, naming, and types
TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Deakin - www.pembinatrails.ca/shaftesbury/mrdeakin
CLOUDSterms, naming, and
types
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CLOUD ALTITUDES Low-level clouds are found
below 2 km Mid-level clouds are situated
from 2 to 6 km high & have an alto_ prefix
High-level clouds are above 6 km in altitude
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CLOUD SHAPES Cumulus clouds are found at
all-levels and have a puffy or billowy appearance
Stratus clouds are featureless, sheet-like clouds
Cirrus is a term for delicate-looking, high altitude clouds made of ice crystals
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Cumulus Clouds
These clouds can befound at any altitude
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Stratus Clouds
Seen from the ground level
As seen from above
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Cirrus Clouds
These clouds have been likened to horse tails
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CLOUD NAMES
Clouds that carry rain or snow have the word nimbus somewhere in their name
Altitude, precipitation, and shape terms are combined to name clouds
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CLOUD TYPES
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Precipitation Clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds are storm clouds which extend high into the atmosphere (up to 20 km)
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Precipitation Clouds
Nimbostratus clouds are grey, unbroken, featureless, rain-containing clouds
Responsible for steady gentle rain
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Altostratus Clouds Featureless
clouds that completely or partially block out the sun
Differ from Nimbostratus clouds in two main ways…
Do not contain the word nimbo
Are found at a higher altitude
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Cirrostratus Clouds
They have a more continuous appearance than the other high altitude clouds
They are composed almost entirely of ice crystals and often blanket large areas of the sky
They are typically so thin that you can easily see the sun or even the moon through them
Halos and other related phenomenon are caused by these clouds
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Halos
Halos occur around the sun or moon Halos are caused by refraction of light by
randomly oriented pyramidal ice crystals
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Altocumulus Clouds
Are detailed, mid-level cumulus clouds
Consist of supercooled and frozen particles
Are usually thin (less than 100m thick)
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Cirrocumulus Clouds
How do these clouds differ from altocumulus clouds?
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Stratocumulus Clouds
Are low-level clouds
Have a distinguishable feature
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Cloud Types Quiz
How many of the 8 clouds can you name?
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Cloud Types Quiz
This picture shows two distinct types of clouds. Can you name each type?
altocumulus
cumulus
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CLOUD TYPES