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Clouds by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Frané Lessac

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Clouds (Weather 101: A Tutorial on Cloud Types)

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clouds by Unsplash / cropped, adjusted color

cloud in summer by zsoravecz / cropped, adjusted color

sheep clouds by followtheseinstructions , used under CC BY-SA / cropped, adjusted color, flipped

large cloud by Mark Ahsmann , used under CC BY-SA / cropped, adjusted color

cloud shape by ikinitip / cropped, adjusted color

room cloud 2 by Berndnaut Smilde / None

room cloud 1 by Berndnaut Smilde / None

what are clouds? by abogawat / cropped, adjusted color

bonfire by Tomasz Sienicki , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified

cottoncandy by cyclonebill , used under CC BY-SA / cropped, adjusted color

cloud marco by Jeff Kubina , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified

Madame Recamier by Jacques-Louis David / heavily modified

hand by Steph684 / heavily modified

mountains behind clouds by Unsplash / cropped, altered aspect ratio

fog by MichaelDiederich , used under CC BY-SA / cropped

foggy street by Cablekid , used under CC BY-SA / cropped, adjusted color

water drops by JB Kilpatrick , used under CC BY / cropped, adjusted color

skydivers by Laura Hadden , used under CC BY / heavily modified

skydiving by Peter Shankman

cloud time lapse by viperior , used under CC BY / cropped, adjusted speed

evaporating puddle by thatwimpydeer / trimmed, adjusted speed

boiling water by LIFEOFVIDS , used under CC BY / altered aspect ratio

pot by Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified

ice cube by Pierre (Rennes) , used under CC BY / cropped

water glass by PublicDomainPictures / adjusted color, modified

water evaporation by Conor Shore

droplets by Pink Sherbet Photography , used under CC BY / heavily modified

drinking water by Amanda Mills

sprinklers by Beth Coll Anderson , used under CC BY / cropped

water spray by D Jabi , used under CC BY / heavily modified

waves breaking by Saltvand , used under CC BY / adjusted color

waterfall by Luke Price , used under CC BY / cropped

clouds over field by pcdazero / adjusted color

mist by PublicDomainPictures / heavily modified

squirt bottle by Anne Swoboda , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified

humidifier by 29cm , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified

pencil by Charm / cut out

pencil #2 by JohannPoufPouf / heavily modified

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In this lesson, students examine clues about how clouds look and feel to discover what they're made of and how they form.

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Lenticular clouds over the mountains in Argentina. © Carina Sofia Baptista OsÃrio /TNC Photo Contest 2019

It's a question that I've wondered many times over the years, but somehow I always failed to follow up on finding the answer. With birds to see, butterflies to identify, and mammals to spotlight, I just never quite got around to honing my cloud identification skills. I could remember "cumulonimbus," from my 4th-grade science class, and that's about it.

That is, until the pandemic happened. After 6 months I've started a birding yard list, planted a garden, reorganized every closet in the house, and irritated my neighbors with my suburban spotlighting misadventures.

I've also spent a lot of time staring out of the window, so I figured it was finally time to learn how to identify clouds, a hobby known as cloudspotting. So if you're like me and curious about clouds - or just short on ways to entertain yourself - here's some basic information, resources, and tips to get you started.

But First, A Latin Lesson

Clouds are grouped into 10 different genera, organized based on shape and the altitude where they're found.

The genera names are all formed from the same five latin terms - cirro, cumulo, strato, nimbo, alto - which are mixed and matched to create names like cumulonimbus, cirrostratus, cirrocumuus.... you get the idea. Learning what each of these Latin roots means is key to keeping your clouds straight:

translates to "heaped." Think puffy, piled, marshmellowy clouds.

translates to "layered." Clouds with strato in their name are often flat and form a wide layer across the sky.

translates to "rain," and is used for the two clouds that regularly produce rain.

Cirro translates to "curl." These clouds are sometimes (but not always) curled and are found in the highest layer of the troposphere.

translates to "high." Confusingly, this doesn't mean the clouds in the highest part of the atmosphere, just that the cloud is higher to others of its type.

Confused? Stay with me.

Cloud Shapes 101

Now that we have the Latin lesson out of the way, let's explore the 10 cloud genera. There are two ways to group clouds, either by altitude (low, medium, or high) or by shape (layer, heap, layer-heap, rain, wispy). I've found the shape method easiest, so we'll use that here.

Layer Clouds: Stratus, altostratus, and cirrostratus. All three of these clouds form blanket-like layers in the sky. Each one can be found at a different altitude.

: Heap clouds Cumulus, altocumulus, and cirrocumulus. All three of these clouds are puffy and again each is found at a different level of the atmosphere.

clouds are the archetypal poofy, white, cotton-ball clouds that we all draw as kids. (No surprise, they're the easiest to identify.) They're lower in the atmosphere, white to light grey in color, and are often found in mostly sunny skies.

Cirrocumulus clouds are high, thin, white clouds that remind me of wave patterns on shallow water or feather down. Cirrocumulus and altocumulus clouds are sometimes called a "mackerel sky" because their pattern resembles fish scales. They're one of the least-spotted cloud genera, and they create absolutely fantastic sunsets.

Stratocumulus clouds look like a thick, low-level layer of puffy clouds, all joined up together. I find these clouds hard to identify, because they've variable and retain features of both stratus and cumulus clouds. If you see what looks like an altocumulus cloud that's close to the ground, it might be a stratocumulus.

clouds are one of the easier clouds to identify. If you see delicate, feathery streaks high in the sky, it's a cirrus cloud. These clouds are made of ice crystals instead of water vapor and often have a fibrous appearance.

Rain clouds: Cumulonimbus and nimbostratus. Is it raining? Then you're probably looking at one of these two cloud types.

Advanced Clouds

Getting a good handle on these 10 cloud genera is the essential starting point for newbie cloudspotters. From there, you'll be ready to move on to more advanced clouds.

I've been using the word "genera" for a reason, because classifying clouds has much in common with classifying species. Within the 10 cloud genera there are 15 cloud species, 9 varieties, 11 supplementary features, 4 accessory clouds, and 5 other kinds of clouds. Overwhelmed? Me too.

But don't panic! Beginner birders need to sort out the differences between warblers, sparrows, and flycatchers before they can move on to parsing the subtleties between Empidonax species.

Cloudspotting is the same. Just start with the 10 cloud genera first. Once you have that down reasonably well, then move on to the species. When you're ready, the website whatsthiscloud.com does an excellent job of explaining the cloud types and the more advanced and .

Rare Clouds & Meteorological Phenomenon

Perhaps the most surprising discovery of my adventures in cloudspotting was that cloudspotters can be just as keen as birders when it comes to chasing rarities. While I don't think twice about taking a three-week road trip to see my first wild cassowary, it never occurred to me that you could do the same thing for clouds.

In some parts of the world, rare meteorological phenomena are somewhat of a regular occurrence, drawing cloudspotting tourists from far away.

Burketown, Australia is one example. From late September to early November of each year the meteorological forces combine to produce a stunning type of stratocumulus cloud called Morning Glory. These clouds look like long, straight cylinders lined up one after the other, stretching for up to 600 miles.

The coast along the Gulf of Carpentaria is the only place in the world where you can reliably see Morning Glory clouds, preferably from eye level on a cloud-viewing flight. They have been spotted elsewhere, but they're so rare that such an occurrence makes the news.

clouds are a stratocumulus species with a weird, pouched shape. (To me they look like a pile of rounded river stones, but in a cloud.) They often form in association with a thunderstorm.

Lenticular clouds are thought to be responsible for many UFO sightings because they look remarkably like a flying saucer. These wavy or pancake-stack clouds are formed from gravitational waves when a cloud and air mass pass over an obstacle, like a mountain.

Kelvin-Helmholz waves are clouds that look exactly like a cartoon drawing of surfer's waves.

clouds form near the Earth's poles in winter, when extremely cold temperatures crystallize ice high in the atmosphere. These clouds form at altitudes greater than 15,000 meters, so light illuminates them even when the sun dips below the horizon. The result is an iridescent, multicolored sheen much like mother of pearl. But danger lurks behind this beauty. The presence of nacreous clouds accelerates the chemical reactions that destroy the ozone layer .

clouds were only officially recognized in 2015, making them the first new cloud to be identified in more than 50 years. They look like dark, swirling waves flowing across the sky, sort of like an upside-down ocean.

Fallstreak holes form in cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds when an airplane causes a patch of moisture to freeze into ice crystals and fall to earth . They're sometimes called hole-punch clouds.

Trips, Tricks, and Cloudspotting Resources

If you're completely new to cloudspotting, the website whatsthiscloud will be a great introductory guide. They have more detailed descriptions and photographs of each of the cloud genera and species, along with a helpful little infographic that shows each type's color, altitude, probability of precipitation, etc.

There's a field guide for everything, and clouds are no exception. When you're ready for more, check out The Cloudspotters Guide , by cloud guru Gavin Pretor-Pinney. He digs into the science, history, art, and pop culture of clouds. Pretor-Pinney also founded the Cloud Appreciation Society , which has more than 51,000 members and a helpful identification help forum, among other resources.

Prefer a digital version? There's an app for that. The CloudSpotter iPhone app provides identification tools and allows users to share their own cloud images, which NASA will use to help calibrate its cloud-observing satellites.

Or you could take the low-tech approach, like I did, and print out good old-fashioned flashcards. You can use them to study, keep them on hand to aid with identification in the field, or convince a patient partner or family member to help quiz you.

Above all, just practice. The great thing about clouds is that - with the exception of that perfect sunny day - they're everywhere. All you need to do is walk outside and look up. (Preferably with sunglasses on!)

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What's That Cloud? Your Guide to Cloudspotting

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It's a question that I've wondered many times over the years, but somehow I always failed to follow up on finding the answer. With birds to see, butterflies to identify, and mammals to spotlight, I just never quite got around to honing my cloud identification skills.

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Listen to the cloud song to learn about the types of clouds!

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TYPES OF CLOUDS SONG | Science Music Video

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Click through this cloud slide share to learn about clouds!

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Clouds
What are clouds?
A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. The droplets are so small and light that they can float in the air.
Why do clouds float?
A cloud is made up of liquid water droplets. A cloud forms when air is heated by the sun. As it rises, it slowly cools it reaches the saturation point and water condenses, forming a cloud. As long as the cloud and the air that its made of is warmer than the outside air around it, it floats!
There are 3 main types of clouds:
Cirrus or thin feathery clouds
Stratus or layered clouds
Cumulus or fluffy clouds

Cirrus Clouds
Are the most common of the
high clouds. They are composed of ice and are thin, wispy clouds blown in high winds into long streamers. Cirrus clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather. By watching the movement of cirrus clouds you can tell from which direction weather is approaching. When you see cirrus clouds, it usually indicates that a change in the weather will occur within 24 hours.
Stratus Clouds
are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that doesn't reach the ground. Light mist or drizzle sometimes falls out of these clouds.
Cumulus Clouds
are white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton. Cumulus clouds are often called "fair-weather clouds". The base of each cloud is flat and the top of each cloud has rounded towers. When the top of the cumulus clouds resemble the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or towering cumulus. These clouds grow upward and they can develop into giant cumulonimbus clouds, which are thunderstorm clouds.
The Importance of Clouds
Clouds help regulate Earth's energy balance by reflecting and scattering solar radiation and by absorbing Earth's infrared energy.
Clouds are required for precipitation to occur and, hence are an essential part of the hydrologic cycle.
Clouds indicate what type of atmospheric processes are occurring (e.g., cumulus clouds indicate surface heating and atmospheric turbulence).
Clouds help redistribute extra heat from the equator toward the poles.

References
https://www.google.com/search?q=clouds&biw=1366&bih=624&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixqOqjlu3NAhVHNpQKHbtGCE0Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=_
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&q=clouds+clipart&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwir8paml-3NAhXGkJQKHSrFAPUQhyYIHQ&dpr=1#imgrc=WZWIVB52x_MJRM%3A
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cloud_types
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-clouds.htm

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Clouds What are clouds? A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. The droplets are so small and light that they can float in the air. Why do clouds float? A cloud is made up of liquid water droplets.

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Watch a video about how clouds are made and form!

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Clouds are made of water or ice crystals, but how do they form? Learn more about cloud formation and when it's likely to happen

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Match the pictures of the clouds with the name of the type of cloud!

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How well can you identify cloud types? Try this matching game and test your skill!

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Watch this video to learn about the different types of clouds!

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Watch this video on clouds and cloud formation: http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/our-world-cool-clouds Watch this Study Jams slide show on clouds. When you are done, take the test. Write your score on the last page of your study guide:

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Try out this quiz to check your learning about the different types of clouds!

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Clouds are categorized by their shape and how high they form in the sky. The highest clouds in the atmosphere are cirrocumulus, cirrus, and cirrostratus. The lowest are stratus, cumulus, and stratocumulus. Some of the largest clouds are cumulonimbus-they can extend all the way to the ground from an altitude of 50,000 feet! Learning the types of clouds will be a breeze with the help of this fun science quiz game!

Keywords: Science games, anatomy games, anatomy study tool, healthcare, memorize anatomy, chemistry, elements, quiz, tool, biology, edtech

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Cloud Types - Science Quiz: Clouds are categorized by their shape and how high they form in the sky. The highest clouds in the atmosphere are cirrocumulus, cirrus, and cirrostratus. The lowest are stratus, cumulus, and stratocumulus. Some of the largest clouds are cumulonimbus-they can extend all the way to the ground from an altitude of 50,000 feet!

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Read about the different types of clouds!

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Clouds

What are clouds?
A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. The droplets are so small and light that they can float in the air.
How are clouds formed?

All air contains water, but near the ground it is usually in the form of an invisible gas called water vapor. When warm air rises, it expands and cools. Cool air can't hold as much water vapor as warm air, so some of the vapor condenses onto tiny pieces of dust that are floating in the air and forms a tiny droplet around each dust particle. When billions of these droplets come together they become a visible cloud.

Why are clouds white?
Since light travels as waves of different lengths, each color has its very own unique wavelength. Clouds are white because their water droplets or ice crystals are large enough to scatter the light of the seven wavelengths (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet), which combine to produce white light.

Why do clouds turn gray?
Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals, usually a mixture of both. The water and ice scatter all light, making clouds appear white. If the clouds get thick enough or high enough all the light above does not make it through, hence the gray or dark look. Also, if there are lots of other clouds around, their shadow can add to the gray or multicolored gray appearance.

Why do clouds float? A cloud is made up of liquid water droplets. A cloud forms when air is heated by the sun. As it rises, it slowly cools it reaches the saturation point and water condenses, forming a cloud. As long as the cloud and the air that its made of is warmer than the outside air around it, it floats!

Clouds move with the wind. High cirrus clouds are pushed along by the jet stream, sometimes traveling at more than 100 miles-per-hour. When clouds are part of a thunderstorm they usually travel at 30 to 40 mph. How do clouds move?

Why do clouds form at different heights in the atmosphere?
The characteristics of clouds are dictated by the elements available, including the amount of water vapor, the temperatures at that height, the wind, and the interplay of other air masses.
There are many different types of fog, but fog is mostly formed when southerly winds bring warm, moist air into a region, possibly ending a cold outbreak. As the warm, moist air flows over much colder soil or snow, dense fog often forms. Warm, moist air is cooled from below as it flows over a colder surface. If the air is near saturation, moisture will condense out of the cooled air and form fog. With light winds, the fog near the ground can become thick and reduce visibilities to zero. How is fog formed?
(Graphic Credit: USA TODAY.)

You need warm air! Southerly winds bring warm, moist air over cold ground or snow.

Fog Forms! Moisture condenses into fog as air is cooled from below.

Cloud Chart

Cloud Group

Cloud Height

Cloud Types

High Clouds = Cirrus

Above 18,000 feet

Cirrus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus

Middle Clouds = Alto

6,500 feet to 18,000 feet

Altostratus
Altocumulus

Low Clouds = Stratus

Up to 6,500 feet

Stratus
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus

Clouds with Vertical Growth

Cumulus
Cumulonimbus

Special Clouds

Mammatus
Lenticular
Fog
Contrails

Cirrus Clouds
Cirrus clouds are the most common of the high clouds. They are composed of ice and are thin, wispy clouds blown in high winds into long streamers. Cirrus clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather. By watching the movement of cirrus clouds you can tell from which direction weather is approaching. When you see cirrus clouds, it usually indicates that a change in the weather will occur within 24 hours.

Cirrocumulus clouds appear as small, rounded white puffs that appear in long rows. The small ripples in the cirrocumulus clouds sometime resemble the scales of a fish. Cirrocumulus clouds are usually seen in the winter and indicate fair, but cold weather. In tropical regions, they may indicate an approaching hurricane.

"Alto" Clouds
Stratus clouds are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that doesn't reach the ground. Light mist or drizzle sometimes falls out of these clouds.

Cumulus clouds are white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton. Cumulus clouds are often called "fair-weather clouds". The base of each cloud is flat and the top of each cloud has rounded towers. When the top of the cumulus clouds resemble the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or towering cumulus. These clouds grow upward and they can develop into giant cumulonimbus clouds, which are thunderstorm clouds.

Cumulonimbus clouds are thunderstorm clouds. High winds can flatten the top of the cloud into an anvil-like shape. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with heavy rain, snow, hail, lightning and even tornadoes. The anvil usually points in the direction the storm is moving.
Cumulus Clouds Stratus Clouds
Mammatus clouds are low hanging bulges that droop from cumulonimbus clouds. Mammatus clouds are usually associated with severe weather. Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray mid level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky. In the thinner areas of the clouds, the sun may be dimly visible as a round disk. Altostratus clouds often form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow.

Lenticular clouds are caused by a wave wind pattern created by the mountains. They look like discs or flying saucers that form near mountains.

Fog is a cloud on the ground. It is composed of billions of tiny water droplets floating in the air. Fog exists if the atmospheric visibility near the Earth's surface is reduced to 1 kilometer or less.

Contrails are condensation trails left behind jet aircrafts. Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with environmental air of low vapor pressure and low temperature. The mixing is a result of turbulence generated by the engine exhaust. Special Clouds

Fractus clouds are small, ragged cloud fragments that are usually found under an ambient cloud base. They form or have broken off from a larger cloud, and are generally sheared by strong winds, giving them a jagged, shredded appearance. Fractus have irregular patterns, appearing much like torn pieces of cotton candy. They change constantly, often forming and dissipating rapidly. They do not have clearly defined bases. Sometimes they are persistent and form very near the surface.

Green Clouds are often associated with severe weather. The green color is not completely understood, but it is thought to have something to do with having a high amount of liquid water drops and hail inside the clouds. In the Great Plains region of the U.S. green clouds are associated with storms likely to produce hail and tornadoes.

Cloud Activities Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan on clouds. In this activity, kids see clouds form when they breath on spoons. When warm, moist breath hits the cool spoon, water vapor condenses and turns into a cloud--or water you can see. Note: This is a PDF file, so you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan on identifying clouds. In this activity, kids build a cloud finder and identify what clouds they see outside. Note: This is a PDF file, so you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan focusing on different types of clouds, how they are formed, and what they indicate about the weather. This activity is for grades 3-6. Note: This is a PDF file, so you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Cloud Experiment: Here is a great experiment that allows the kids to make a cloud in a bottle.

Fog Experiment: Here is a great experiment that allows the kids to make fog.
Pressure Experiment: Here is an experiment that shows how pressure is created in our atmosphere by sucking an egg in a bottle. This is a very cool experiment!
Science Fair Project Ideas: Here is a complete list of science fair project ideas. Discover the science behind the weather that impacts us every day.
Make A Barometer Experiment: Here is an experiment that allows the kids to make a barometer.

Evaporation Experiment: Here is an experiment that shows kids how evaporation takes place.

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Weather Wiz Kids weather information for kids

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Weather Wiz Kids is a fun and safe website for kids about all the weather info they need to know. It contains tools for weather education, including weather games, activities, experiments, photos, a glossary and educational teaching materials for the classroom.

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Listen to this story about different types of clouds!

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Read Aloud- The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola