February 10, 2020 Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are often described as puffy clouds that are flat on the bottom. Cumulus clouds often bring heavy rain or snow that doesn't last long. NOTES: • Cumulus brings brief heavy rain • Puffy clouds with flat bottoms KEY WORDS: Cumulus = Puffy February 10, 2020 Stratus Clouds Stratus clouds are often described as blanket like clouds. Stratus clouds usually brings rain or snow that is long lasting. Fog is a stratus cloud that is at ground level. NOTES: • Stratus clouds bring long lasting rain • Stratus are blanket like clouds • Fog is a stratus cloud at ground level. KEY WORDS: Stratus = Blanket February 10, 2020 Cirrus Clouds Cirrus clouds are often described as wispy, featherlike clouds. Cirrus clouds often come with clear and calm weather. NOTES: • Cirrus are wispy, featherlike • Cirrus clouds clear and calm weather • KEY WORDS: Cirrus = Wispy February 10, 2020 Rain Clouds We've learned about the other three types of clouds but what about a rain cloud. If rain or snow falls from a cloud, the term nimbo- or nimbus- is added to the clouds name. NIMBO- or NIMBUS- means "RAIN." Cumulonimbus clouds are large puffy rain clouds, THAT BRING THUNDERSTORMS. Nimbostratus clouds are blanket like rain clouds. NOTES: • Cumulonimbus puffy rain clouds bring thunderstorms • Nimbostratus blanket like rain clouds • Key Words: Nimbo/Nimbus = Rain February 10, 2020 Clouds & Weather Clouds don't just bring rain. They can have other effects on weather as well. When it is very cloudy temperatures tend to get cooler. Clouds also can make it more humid because it is trapping water vapor. NOTES: • Clouds block the sun causing it to get cooler. • Clouds also increase humidity February 10, 2020 Precipitation We've learned about the other three types of clouds but what about all that water that comes out of them. Any water that falls to the ground is known as precipitation. Just like there are 4 types of clouds there are also 4 types of precipitation. The 4 types are rain, sleet, snow, and hail. NOTES: *The TEMPERATURE determines the type of Precipitation *4 types of precipitation: *Rain *Sleet *Snow *Hail February 10, 2020 Rain & Sleet Rain is water that falls to the ground. Sleet is rain that has become frozen. NOTES: Rain: Water NOTES: Sleet: Frozen Rain February 10, 2020 Snow & Hail Snow is when rain has turned into ice crystals. Hail is when water droplets collect around ice crystals and freeze. NOTES: Snow: Ice Crystals NOTES: Hail: Pieces/Chunks of Ice .