Clouds

Front 1

Definition of Clouds

Back 1

the visible products of condensation and deposition within the atmosphere.

Front 2

Cirrus or Cirro

Back 2

feathery

Front 3

Strato or Stratus

Back 3

layered

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Cummulo or Cummulus

Back 4

puffy

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Nimbo or Nimbus

Back 5

rain

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Fracto or Fractus

Back 6

broken (into pieces)

Front 7

High Clouds Definition

Back 7

above 20,000 feet
composed of ice (low temperature)
prefix CIRRO
caused by deposition

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Types of High Clouds

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cirrus: wispy
cirrostratus: thin, the sun/moon shines through it, commonly called a halo cloud.
cirrocummulus: puffy, looks like fish scales

Front 9

Middle Clouds Definiton

Back 9

6500 to 20,000 feet
composed of ice crystals and super cold water
prefix ALTO

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Types of Middle Clouds

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altostratus: gray/off white, thick. no shadows.
altocummulus: patches that form lines/waves-large size, sharp features

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Low Clouds Definiton

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base to 6500 feet
fog from surface to 6500 feet
composed of water droplets
NO prefix

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Types of Low Clouds

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stratocummulus: large puffs arranged in layers
nimbostratus: dark gray clouds, showing precipitation
stratus: may cause drizzle, gray, stretching from horizon to horizon

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Advection Fog

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warm moist air over a water region-coastal.
occurs when land surface is cooler than water

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Radiation Fog

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due to night time radiation cooling
found in low lying areas
some occur over land, some occur over water

Front 15

Frontal Fog

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due to uplifted air in either a cool or warm front
widespread, long lasting

Front 16

Steam Fog

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evaporation fog
occurs over lakes and rivers
water warmer than land

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Clouds of Vertical Development

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cummulus: occurs as air rises 3000-6500 feet
resemble puffy cotton balls
cummulonimbus: SEVERE weather clouds
anvil shaped

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Unusual Clouds

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altocummulus lenticularis: also known as lenticular clouds, found near mountain ranges
banner: draped over top of mountain (like a banner)
contrail: from a plane

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Types of Precipitation

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virga: rain that doesn't make it to the ground
mist: moisture from fog
drizzle: small rain drops from stratus clouds
rain: falls from nimbostratus or cummulonimbus
freezing rain
sleet
snow
hail:associated with severe weather

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How it Rains: Collision Coalescence

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tiny cloud droplets catching more tiny rain droplets
forms one drop
1 million collisions=1 raindrop

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How it Rains: Bergeron Process

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ice crystals falling
ice catches other flakes of ice, forming one large ice crystal
melts before hitting ground

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Weather Modification

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any change in weather by human activity
either intentional or otherwise

Front 23

Weather Modification: Cloud Seeding

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trying to simulate bergeron process by injecting silver iodine into clouds to create rain

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Weather Modification: Fog Dispersal

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used to burn off fog in WW2 by RAF along runways
may also seed clouds, creating rain to wash the fog away.

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Weather Modification: Hail Suppression

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church bells to break hail stones
trying to explode hail stones
cloud seeding to prevent hail

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Weather Modification: Frost/Freeze Control

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where crops are planted-warmer on hill slopes
smoke/mist clouds to shield/hold heat in
fans in orchards
hot caps to cover plants
spraying water on crops so that they freeze while warm