DOCSLIB.ORG

Name That Cloud!

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Name That Cloud! Period _____ Name ___________________________ Name That Cloud! What’s the weather going to be like today? We’re always asking that. We need to know. The weather affects what we wear, what we need to take with us, and what we do. Will we need to wear shorts, or a sweater and warm pants? Will we need to take an umbrella or a heavy coat? Can we play outside after school? You can learn to predict the weather. You don’t need a lot of equipment or fancy stuff – just use your eyes! Go outside and look at the clouds. Clouds come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. You can use what you know about clouds to find out what the weather will bring. Okay, here’s what you need to know about clouds. Clouds are named by the way they look. We use Latin root words to name them. Clouds come in different sizes and shapes. They are formed and drift along at different heights in the sky. All of these things help us name them and know what kind of weather they may bring. There are three main types of clouds: cumulus, cirrus, and stratus. When the weather is fair, we see cumulus clouds. Fair weather is fine, sunny weather with no chance of rain, snow, or any other precipitation. Cumulus clouds are white, puffy clouds that may look like cauliflower. In Latin, cumulus means “heap.” You may see heaps and heaps of these white, fluffy, cotton-ball-looking clouds. Usually there are large spaces of clear blue sky in between them. Now you know that when you see them, you will know that the weather will be fair and sunny. Cirrus clouds mean fair weather, too. Cirrus comes from the Latin word for “curl of hair.” These high, wispy clouds look like curly swirls in the sky. They curl in the direction the wind is blowing. No precipitation will fall from cirrus clouds. They occur very high in the sky – about 4 miles to 8 miles high! They are usually in a thin layer; sunlight passes through them. Stratus comes from the Latin word meaning “to spread out.” Stratus clouds spread out and usually cover the whole sky like a blanket. They occur in horizontal layers and are usually the same color of dark gray all across the sky. They usually bring light rain or drizzle. Now that you have learned the three basic cloud types, you can learn about the prefixes that go with them. Clouds are given prefixes that describe their height in the sky where they formed. The prefix cirro- is used for clouds that are formed high in the sky. These clouds form above 20,000 feet, or more than three miles high. High clouds might be cirrus, cirrostratus, or cirrocumulus. These are all made of ice crystals because they are formed so high in the sky where it is cold. These ice crystals sometimes cause a halo around the moon. Middle-level clouds are described with the prefix alto-. These clouds form between 8,000 to 20,000 feet and are made of water droplets. Altocumulus clouds look like fuzzy bubbles that are connected in long rows. These groups of fleecy-looking clouds may be white or gray. When you see these clouds, it usually means a cold front is coming. If it is warm and humid, a thunderstorm can be predicted. Another type of middle-level cloud is the altostratus. These are grayish-blue clouds that usually cover the whole sky. When you see these, you can expect widespread storms to occur. They may bring rain or snow. Low clouds may be called stratus, stratocumulus, or nimbostratus. These clouds usually form below 8,000 feet. They usually produce light rain or drizzle, but they can produce snow during cold weather. They are gray and cover the entire sky. Stratus clouds are uniformly gray and look like fog. They may bring drizzle. Nimbostratus clouds are dark, and when you see them, you can predict light-to-moderate, steady precipitation. Stratocumulus clouds are lumpy. They are different shades of light and dark gray. There may be patches of clear sky between them. They usually only produce light precipitation. There are two other cloud types to learn. These clouds have vertical development. This means they grow in height. The taller the clouds, the more severe the weather they will bring. These two types are cumulus and cumulonimbus. Cumulus clouds are low clouds and look like puffy white cotton balls. If they don’t have much height, you can predict fair weather. The greater their vertical development, or the taller they are, the greater the possibility of showers with perhaps, thunderstorms. Cumulonimbus clouds have a flat bottom rising up into an anvil-shaped top. These are classic “thunderheads” and bring heavy precipitation, thunder, lightning, and hail. When you see these clouds, watch out; nature will provide quite a show. QUESTIONS/TASKS: There are three basic cloud types that are named for their shapes. Match these cloud types to their descriptions. 1. cirrus a. heaps of white, fluffy clouds 2. cumulus b. layers of clouds that blanket the sky 3. stratus c. wispy, thin, curly clouds Fill in the blank: Name these cloud layers with the appropriate prefix or root word that describes their height. 1. High clouds may be: cirrus, ___________ stratus, or ___________ cumulus 2. Middle clouds may be ___________ cumulus or ___________ stratus 3. Low clouds may be stratus, ___________ cumulus, or nimbo ___________ Mulitple Choice Questions: Circle the correct answer. 1. Heaps of white, puffy clouds that may look like cauliflower are: a. cumulus b. cirrus c. stratus d. nimbostratus 2. High, swirly “curls” of clouds are called: a. cumulus b. cirrus c. stratus d. nimbostratus 3. Clouds that are spread out in layers like a blanket are called: a. cumulus b. cirrus c. stratus d. cumulonimbus 4. A cloud that forms at the height of 10,000 feet would have the prefix: a. cirro b. alto c. strato d. middle- 5. High clouds that formed above the height of 20,000 feet would have the prefix: a. cirro b. alto c. strato d. higho- 6. Very tall clouds that have an anvil-shaped top are called: a. cumulus b. cirrus c. stratus d. cumulonimbus Drawing Task: On the back of this paper, draw (do not trace) and label the different cloud types shown on page 77 in the green textbook. Be sure your drawing is NEAT and include the number scale shown on the side of the picture. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Exploring the MBL Cloud and Drizzle Microphysics Retrievals from Satellite, Surface and Aircraft
    Exploring the MBL cloud and drizzle microphysics retrievals from satellite, surface and aircraft Xiquan Dong, University of Arizona Pat Minnis, SSAI 1. Briefly describe our 2. Can we utilize these surface newly developed retrieval retrievals to develop cloud (and/or drizzle) Re profile for algorithm using ARM radar- CERES team? lidar, and comparison with aircraft data. Re is a critical for radiation Wu et al. (2020), JGR and aerosol-cloud- precipitation interactions, as well as warm rain process. 1 A long-term Issue: CERES Re is too large, especially under drizzling MBL clouds A/C obs in N Atlantic • Cloud droplet size retrievals generally too high low clouds • Especially large for Re(1.6, 2.1 µm) CERES Re too large Worse for larger Re • Cloud heterogeneity plays a role, but drizzle may also be a factor - Can we understand the impact of drizzle on these NIR retrievals and their differences with Painemal et al. 2020 ground truth? A/C obs in thin Pacific Sc with drizzle CERES LWP high, tau low, due to large Re Which will lead to high SW transmission at the In thin drizzlers, Re is overestimated by 3 µm surface and less albedo at TOA Wood et al. JAS 2018 Painemal et al. JGR 2017 2 Profiles of MBL Cloud and Drizzle Microphysical Properties retrieved from Ground-based Observations and Validated by Aircraft data during ACE-ENA IOP 푫풎풂풙 ퟔ Radar reflectivity: 풁 = ׬ퟎ 푫 푵풅푫 Challenge is to simultaneously retrieve both cloud and drizzle properties within an MBL cloud layer using radar-lidar observations because radar reflectivity depends on the sixth power of the particle size and can be highly weighted by a few large drizzle drops in a drizzling cloud 3 Wu et al.
    [Show full text]
  • 7.2 DEVELOPMENT of a METEOROLOGICAL PARTICLE SENSOR for the OBSERVATION of DRIZZLE Richard Lewis* National Weather Service St
    7.2 DEVELOPMENT OF A METEOROLOGICAL PARTICLE SENSOR FOR THE OBSERVATION OF DRIZZLE Richard Lewis* National Weather Service Sterling, VA 20166 Stacy G. White Science Applications International Corporation Sterling, VA 20166 1. INTRODUCTION “Very small, numerous, and uniformly dispersed, water drops that may appear to float while The National Weather Service (NWS) and Federal following air currents. Unlike fog droplets, drizzle Aviation Administration (FAA) are jointly participating in a falls to the ground. It usually falls from low Product Improvement Program to improve the capabilities stratus clouds and is frequently accompanied by of the of Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS). low visibility and fog. The greatest challenge in the ASOS was to automate the visual elements of the observation; sky conditions, visibility In weather observations, drizzle is classified as and type of weather. Despite achieving some success in (a) “very light”, comprised of scattered drops that this area, limitations in the reporting capabilities of the do not completely wet an exposed surface, ASOS remain. As currently configured, the ASOS uses a regardless of duration; (b) “light,” the rate of fall Precipitation Identifier that can only identify two being from a trace to 0.25 mm per hour: (c) precipitation types, rain and snow. A goal of the Product “moderate,” the rate of fall being 0.25-0.50 mm Improvement program is to replace the current PI sensor per hour:(d) “heavy” the rate of fall being more with one that can identify additional precipitation types of than 0.5 mm per hour. When the precipitation importance to aviation. Highest priority is being given to equals or exceeds 1mm per hour, all or part of implementing capabilities of identifying ice pellets and the precipitation is usually rain; however, true drizzle.
    [Show full text]
  • ESSENTIALS of METEOROLOGY (7Th Ed.) GLOSSARY
    ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY (7th ed.) GLOSSARY Chapter 1 Aerosols Tiny suspended solid particles (dust, smoke, etc.) or liquid droplets that enter the atmosphere from either natural or human (anthropogenic) sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur-containing fossil fuels, such as coal, produce sulfate aerosols. Air density The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume occupied by it. Air density is usually expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3. Also See Density. Air pressure The pressure exerted by the mass of air above a given point, usually expressed in millibars (mb), inches of (atmospheric mercury (Hg) or in hectopascals (hPa). pressure) Atmosphere The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet's gravitational attraction. The earth's atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide (CO2) A colorless, odorless gas whose concentration is about 0.039 percent (390 ppm) in a volume of air near sea level. It is a selective absorber of infrared radiation and, consequently, it is important in the earth's atmospheric greenhouse effect. Solid CO2 is called dry ice. Climate The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events over a long period of time. Front The transition zone between two distinct air masses. Hurricane A tropical cyclone having winds in excess of 64 knots (74 mi/hr). Ionosphere An electrified region of the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentrations of ions and free electrons exist. Lapse rate The rate at which an atmospheric variable (usually temperature) decreases with height. (See Environmental lapse rate.) Mesosphere The atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Review and Scientific Synthesis on the Efficacy of Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding
    Statement on the Application of Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding For Water Supply and Energy Production Literature Review and Scientific Synthesis on the Efficacy of Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding A Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation January 2015 Prepared by David W. Reynolds CIRES Boulder, Co 1 Technical Memorandum This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the Bureau of Reclamation. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent Reclamation’s determination or policy. As such, the findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Reclamation. 2 Statement on the Application of Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding For Water Supply and Energy Production 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.1. Introduction to Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding .......................................................... 5 1.2 Purpose of this Study........................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Relevance and Need for a Reassessment of the Role of Winter Orographic Cloud Seeding to Enhance Water Supplies in the West ........................................................................ 6 1.4 NRC 2003 Report on Critical Issues in Weather Modification – Critical Issues Concerning Winter Orographic
    [Show full text]
  • Cloud and Precipitation Radars
    Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility maintains heavily ARM Radar Data instrumented fixed and mobile field sites that measure clouds, aerosols, Radar data is inherently complex. ARM radars are developed, operated, and overseen by engineers, scientists, radiation, and precipitation. data analysts, and technicians to ensure common goals of quality, characterization, calibration, data Data from these sites are used by availability, and utility of radars. scientists to improve the computer models that simulate Earth’s climate system. Storage Process Data Post- Data Cloud and Management processing Products Precipitation Radars Mentors Mentors Cloud systems vary with climatic regimes, and observational DQO Translators Data capabilities must account for these differences. Radars are DMF Developers archive Site scientist DMF the only means to obtain both quantitative and qualitative observations of clouds over a large area. At each ARM fixed and mobile site, millimeter and centimeter wavelength radars are used to obtain observations Calibration Configuration of the horizontal and vertical distributions of clouds, as well Scan strategy as the retrieval of geophysical variables to characterize cloud Site operations properties. This unprecedented assortment of 32 radars Radar End provides a unique capability for high-resolution delineation Mentors science users of cloud evolution, morphology, and characteristics. One-of-a-Kind Radar Network Advanced Data Products and Tools All ARM radars, with the exception of three, are equipped with dual- Reectivity (dBz) • Active Remotely Sensed Cloud Locations (ARSCL) – combines data from active remote sensors with polarization technology. Combined -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 50 60 radar observations to produce an objective determination of hydrometeor height distributions and retrieval with multiple frequencies, this 1 μm 10 μm 100 μm 1 mm 1 cm 10 cm 10-3 10-2 10-1 100 101 102 of cloud properties.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates for Drought and Flood Monitoring in Mozambique
    Remote Sens. 2015, 7, 1758-1776; doi:10.3390/rs70201758 OPEN ACCESS remote sensing ISSN 2072-4292 www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing Article Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates for Drought and Flood Monitoring in Mozambique Carolien Toté 1,*, Domingos Patricio 2, Hendrik Boogaard 3, Raymond van der Wijngaart 3, Elena Tarnavsky 4 and Chris Funk 5 1 Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Remote Sensing Unit, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium 2 Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INAM), Rua de Mukumbura 164, C.P. 256, Maputo, Mozambique; E-Mail: [email protected] 3 Alterra, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 3708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands; E-Mails: [email protected] (H.B.); [email protected] (R.W.) 4 Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 243, Reading RG6 6BB, UK; E-Mail: [email protected] 5 United States Geological Survey/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center and the Climate Hazard Group, Geography Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +32-14-336844; Fax: +32-14-322795. Academic Editor: George P. Petropoulos and Prasad S. Thenkabail Received: 8 August 2014 / Accepted: 29 January 2015 / Published: 5 February 2015 Abstract: Satellite derived rainfall products are useful for drought and flood early warning and overcome the problem of sparse, unevenly distributed and erratic rain gauge observations, provided their accuracy is well known. Mozambique is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as major droughts and floods and thus, an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different rainfall products is valuable.
    [Show full text]
  • Print Key. (Pdf)
    Weather Map Symbols Along the center, the cloud types are indicated. The top symbol is the high-level cloud type followed by the At the upper right is the In the upper left, the temperature mid-level cloud type. The lowest symbol represents low-level cloud over a number which tells the height of atmospheric pressure reduced to is plotted in Fahrenheit. In this the base of that cloud (in hundreds of feet) In this example, the high level cloud is Cirrus, the mid-level mean sea level in millibars (mb) A example, the temperature is 77°F. B C C to the nearest tenth with the cloud is Altocumulus and the low-level clouds is a cumulonimbus with a base height of 2000 feet. leading 9 or 10 omitted. In this case the pressure would be 999.8 mb. If the pressure was On the second row, the far-left Ci Dense Ci Ci 3 Dense Ci Cs below Cs above Overcast Cs not Cc plotted as 024 it would be 1002.4 number is the visibility in miles. In from Cb invading 45° 45°; not Cs ovcercast; not this example, the visibility is sky overcast increasing mb. When trying to determine D whether to add a 9 or 10 use the five miles. number that will give you a value closest to 1000 mb. 2 As Dense As Ac; semi- Ac Standing Ac invading Ac from Cu Ac with Ac Ac of The number at the lower left is the a/o Ns transparent Lenticularis sky As / Ns congestus chaotic sky Next to the visibility is the present dew point temperature.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Atmosphere Greece Sicily Athens
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sardinia Italy Turkey Our Atmosphere Greece Sicily Athens he atmosphere is a life-giving blanket of air that surrounds our Crete T Tunisia Earth; it is composed of gases that protect us from the Sun’s intense ultraviolet Gulf of Gables radiation, allowing life to flourish. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, Mediterranean Sea ozone, and methane are steadily increasing from year to year. These gases trap infrared radiation (heat) emitted from Earth’s surface and atmosphere, Gulf of causing the atmosphere to warm. Conversely, clouds as well as many tiny Sidra suspended liquid or solid particles in the air such as dust, smoke, and Egypt Libya pollution—called aerosols—reflect the Sun’s radiative energy, which leads N to cooling. This delicate balance of incoming and reflected solar radiation 200 km and emitted infrared energy is critical in maintaining the Earth’s climate Turkey Greece and sustaining life. Research using computer models and satellite data from NASA’s Earth Sicily Observing System enhances our understanding of the physical processes Athens affecting trends in temperature, humidity, clouds, and aerosols and helps us assess the impact of a changing atmosphere on the global climate. Crete Tunisia Gulf of Gables Mediterranean Sea September 17, 1979 Gulf of Sidra October 6, 1986 September 20, 1993 Egypt Libya September 10, 2000 Aerosol Index low high September 24, 2006 On August 26, 2007, wildfires in southern Greece stretched along the southwest coast of the Peloponnese producing Total Ozone (Dobson Units) plumes of smoke that drifted across the Mediterranean Sea as far as Libya along Africa’s north coast.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cloud Cycle and Acid Rain
    gX^\[`i\Zk\em`ifed\ekXc`dgXZkjf]d`e`e^Xkc`_`i_`^_jZ_ffcYffbc\k(+ ( K_\Zcfl[ZpZc\Xe[XZ`[iX`e m the mine ke fro smo uld rain on Lihir? Co e acid caus /P 5IJTCPPLMFUXJMM FYQMBJOXIZ K_\i\Xjfe]fik_`jYffbc\k K_\i\`jefXZ`[iX`efeC`_`i% `jk_Xkk_\i\_XjY\\ejfd\ K_`jYffbc\k\ogcX`ejk_\jZ`\eZ\ d`jle[\ijkXe[`e^XYflkk_\ Xe[Z_\d`jkipY\_`e[XZ`[iX`e% \o`jk\eZ\f]XZ`[iX`efeC`_`i% I\X[fekfÔe[flkn_pk_\i\`jef XZ`[iX`efeC`_`i55 page Normal rain cycle and acid rain To understand why there is no acid rain on Lihir we will look at: 1 How normal rain is formed 2 2 How humidity effects rain formation 3 3 What causes acid rain? 4 4 How much smoke pollution makes acid rain? 5 5 Comparing pollution on Lihir with Sydney and China 6 6 Where acid rain does occur 8–9 7 Could acid rain fall on Lihir? 10–11 8 The effect of acid rain on the environment 12 9 Time to check what you’ve learnt 13 Glossary back page Read the smaller text in the blue bar at the bottom of each page if you want to understand the detailed scientific explanations. > > gX^\) ( ?fnefidXciX`e`j]fid\[ K_\eXkliXcnXk\iZpZc\ :cfl[jXi\]fid\[n_\e_\Xk]ifdk_\jleZXlj\jk_\nXk\i`e k_\fZ\Xekf\mXgfiXk\Xe[Y\Zfd\Xe`em`j`Yc\^Xj% K_`j^Xji`j\j_`^_`ekfk_\X`in_\i\Zffc\ik\dg\iXkli\jZXlj\ `kkfZfe[\ej\Xe[Y\Zfd\k`epnXk\i[ifgc\kj%N_\edXepf] k_\j\nXk\i[ifgc\kjZfcc`[\kf^\k_\ik_\pdXb\Y`^^\inXk\i [ifgj#n_`Z_Xi\kff_\XmpkfÕfXkXifle[`ek_\X`iXe[jfk_\p ]Xcc[fneXjiX`e%K_`jgifZ\jj`jZXcc\[gi\Z`g`kXk`fe% K_\eXkliXcnXk\iZpZc\ _\Xk]ifd k_\jle nXk\imXgflijZfe[\ej\ kfZi\Xk\Zcfl[j gi\Z`g`kXk`fe \mXgfiXk`fe K_\jZ`\eZ\Y\_`e[iX`e K_\_\Xk]ifdk_\jleZXlj\jnXk\i`ek_\
    [Show full text]
  • Cold Season Cloud Seeding
    Weather Modification UNDERSTANDING Cloud seeding—a form of weather modification— ALBERTA CANADA COLD SEASON is a safe, scientific, time-tested, and proven set of Cloud Seeding technologies used to enhance rain and snow, re- ND duce hail damage, and alleviate fog. The benefits ID of cloud seeding can be measured in additional WY water for cities and agriculture, as well as the re- NV UT duction of damage from severe weather. CA CO KS TX Target area—Cold-season cloud-seeding Target area—Warm-season cloud-seeding A ground-based generator is used to burn a silver iodide solution to release microscopic silver-iodide particles which can create additional ice crystals, then snow, in winter clouds. Research has shown that placing equipment at high elevations increases cloud seeding effectiveness. NAWMC Members Cold Season Seeding California Department of Water Resources When moist air flows over the mountains, water vapor Colorado Water Conservation Board condenses and forms clouds composed of water droplets. These droplets become “super cooled” and have the unique Desert Research Institute quality to remain liquid even at temperatures below freez- North Dakota Atmospheric Resource Board ing. Given enough time and mixing with surrounding air, many of the droplets will evaporate, but under the correct Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation conditions some will eventually become ice crystals, grow Utah Division of Water Resources into snowflakes and precipitate to the ground. Cloud seed- Wyoming Water Development Office ing provides an opportunity to increase the number of ice crystals that can become snowflakes. NAWMC Associate Members Who Conducts Cloud Seeding? Central Arizona Water Conservation District In North America, cloud-seeding programs are conducted in Metropolitan Water District of Southern California California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Santa Barbara County Water Agency North Dakota, and Texas, as well as Alberta, Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 7A: Cloud Development and Forms
    Lecture 7a: Cloud Development and Forms (from “The Blue Planet”) Why Clouds Form Cloud Types ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Why Clouds Form? Clouds form when air rises and becomes saturated in response to adiabatic cooling. ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Four Ways to Lift Air Upward (1) Localized Convection cold front (2) Convergence (4) Frontal Lifting Lifting warm front (3) Orographic Lifting ESS55 (from “The Blue Planet”) Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Orographic Lifting ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Frontal Lifting When boundaries between air of unlike temperatures (fronts) migrate, warmer air is pushed aloft. This results in adiabatic cooling and cloud formation. Cold fronts occur when warm air is displaced by cooler air. Warm fronts occur when warm air rises over and displaces cold air. ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Cloud Type Based On Properties Four basic cloud categories: Cirrus --- thin, wispy cloud of ice. Stratus --- layered cloud Cumulus --- clouds having vertical development. Nimbus --- rain-producing cloud These basic cloud types can be combined to generate ten different cloud types, such as cirrostratus clouds that have the characteristics of cirrus clouds and stratus clouds. ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Cloud Types ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Cloud Types Based On Height If based on cloud base height, the ten principal cloud types can then grouped into four cloud types: High clouds -- cirrus, cirrostratus, cirroscumulus. Middle clouds – altostratus and altocumulus Low clouds – stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostartus Clouds with extensive vertical development – cumulus and cumulonimbus. (from “The Blue Planet”) ESS55 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu Cloud Classifications (from “The Blue Planet”) ESS55 Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Prediction of Short-Time Cloud Motion Using a Deep-Learning Model
    atmosphere Article Prediction of Short-Time Cloud Motion Using a Deep-Learning Model Xinyue Su 1,*, Tiejian Li 1,2 , Chenge An 1 and Guangqian Wang 1 1 State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; [email protected] (T.L.); [email protected] (C.A.); [email protected] (G.W.) 2 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 24 August 2020; Accepted: 22 October 2020; Published: 26 October 2020 Abstract: A cloud image can provide significant information, such as precipitation and solar irradiation. Predicting short-time cloud motion from images is the primary means of making intra-hour irradiation forecasts for solar-energy production and is also important for precipitation forecasts. However, it is very challenging to predict cloud motion (especially nonlinear motion) accurately. Traditional methods of cloud-motion prediction are based on block matching and the linear extrapolation of cloud features; they largely ignore nonstationary processes, such as inversion and deformation, and the boundary conditions of the prediction region. In this paper, the prediction of cloud motion is regarded as a spatiotemporal sequence-forecasting problem, for which an end-to-end deep-learning model is established; both the input and output are spatiotemporal sequences. The model is based on gated recurrent unit (GRU)- recurrent convolutional network (RCN), a variant of the gated recurrent unit (GRU), which has convolutional structures to deal with spatiotemporal features. We further introduce surrounding context into the prediction task. We apply our proposed Multi-GRU-RCN model to FengYun-2G satellite infrared data and compare the results to those of the state-of-the-art method of cloud-motion prediction, the variational optical flow (VOF) method, and two well-known deep-learning models, namely, the convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) and GRU.
    [Show full text]