What are Clouds?

Clouds form through evaporation, a stage in the water cycle. Clouds are filled with water that evaporated from the Earth’s surface. When clouds contain too much water, it is too heavy for them to carry. The water falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. This is called precipitation.

Cumulus

Cumulus clouds are a popular and common type of cloud. These clouds are white, puffy clouds that provide pleasant weather. They are usually formed when updrafts carrying water vapor form clouds.

Cumulonimbus 

Cumulonimbus clouds are much, much taller and larger than cumulonimbus ones. They form if the current of the updrafts are stronger. Cumulonimbus are storm clouds. Their dark gray color indicates rain, thunderstorms, lightning, or hail.

Stratus

Stratus clouds are also common. Stratus clouds are formed through convection. Warm air rises over cold air. This is why these clouds form into what looks like one dark cloud, covering the sky with gray. Stratus clouds usually bring us wet conditions, like light rain or snow.

Cirrus

Cirrus clouds are those clouds that are thin and wispy. They form very high up, higher than 6,000 meters. They are made of ice crystals formed by frozen water droplets. Cirrus clouds often occur in fair weather. However, they can often hint of an upcoming storm. They also hint of warm fronts (of air) and precipitation.

 

These four are the most common and popular clouds, but there are many more variations and types of clouds. Clouds are very helpful to us in terms of weather. Scientist look at clouds to predict upcoming weather. Without clouds, you would not be able to watch the weather channel!