What Types Of Clouds Can You Find In The Sky printable pdf download

What Types Of Clouds Can You Find In The Sky

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What Types of Clouds Can You Find in the Sky?

Scientists classify clouds into three main categories - stratus, cumulus, and status. In

this activity you will observe and learn how to identify these three types of clouds and the type

of weather they bring.

• Stratus clouds are low, ﬂat, gray clouds that look like sheets covering the sky. They

are the closest clouds to the ground. They form as low as surface level (fog) to about

6,500 feet above the ground. They can produce rain, drizzle, or mist.

• Cumulus clouds are puffy and white like cotton balls. They form from 2,000 to

20,000 feet above the ground. They usually indicate fair weather. Sometimes they

grow very large and become thunderheads. As these clouds gather they create thunder

and lightning and produce precipitation in the form of rain and hail.

• Cirrus clouds are thin, curly, wispy clouds. They are sometimes referred to as mares’

tails. They form between 25,000 to 40,000 feet above the ground. They are so high in

the atmosphere that the water droplets freeze into ice crystals. They often indicate an

incoming storm or weather change.

Day

Cloud

% of Sky

What the

Forecast for

What

Were You

Type

Covered

Weather is

Tomorrow

Changes Did

Correct?

Like Today

You See?

9.2.3

What Types Of Clouds Can You Find In The Sky