All About Clouds

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All About Clouds
By Laura Rueden
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What is a cloud?
You probably know what a cloud looks like.
Sometimes they look different but they are all
basically big white things. Clouds are a
collection of Very small droplets of water that
are held together in the air.
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So where does the water come from?

• There is always water in the air. The water
  comes from the lakes, rivers, oceans, or moist
  soil and plants that is evaporated. All the
  little water particles then stick together from
  the dust and dirt in the air. Then a cloud is
  formed. The wind and air currents move the
  clouds and reshape them. Sometimes you can see
  the clouds move in the sky.

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Three Common Types of Clouds
There are many types of clouds, but there are
three that are the most common. These are
stratus, cirrus, and cumulus.
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Stratus

• Stratus clouds usually cover most of the sky.
  They are a uniform gray color. They are usually
  low to the ground. Sometimes they touch the
  ground which in known as fog.

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How do Stratus Clouds Form?

• Stratus clouds form when a layer of air is
  cooled below a certain temperature and the little
  water particles (water vapor) sticks together.
  Usually rain or snow does not come from these
  clouds because they are too weak, but a light
  mist or drizzle can be felt.

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Cirrus

• Cirrus are thin, wispy clouds that sit high in
  the sky.

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How do Cirrus Clouds Form?

• Cirrus clouds form when the water particles
  (water vapor) form ice crystals. They are high
  in the sky where it is colder and less water
  vapor is available. Cirrus clouds usually move
  from west to east and mean fair weather (that is
  why they are thin).

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Cumulus
Cumulus are lumpy and fluffy clouds that stretch
high into the sky.
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How do Cumulus Clouds Form?

• Cumulus clouds from when the water vapor comes
  together in strong upward air currents. They are
  usually found with large areas of blue sky. Fair
  weather usually comes with these clouds, but if
  the air is unstable enough, another type of
  cumulus clouds forms (cumulonimbus) which are
  better known as thunderstorms.

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Clouds Make the Weather

• As you can see all precipitation, rain and
  snow, comes from clouds. Clouds are so important
  This is so important, because every living thing
  needs water it supports life. Clouds create
  rain clouds, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and so on.
  

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Note

• There are also many other types of clouds. These
  three are the basis for most other clouds. There
  are different types, like sub clouds of clouds
  that branch off into more specific categories.
• But now you have a basic understanding of what
  clouds are and how they are important to the
  weather.

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More Info to Look Up

• Go here to check out the weather in your area
  or around the world. Just click the zip code or
  city.
• http//www.cnn.com/WEATHER/

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Credits

• Photos were taken from
• http//www.cloudman.com/atlas/atlas.htm

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• THE
• END