Physical Geography - Chapter 6: Clouds

Front 1

Height

Back 1

The first part of a cloud name reflects this aspect of the cloud

Front 2

Cirro

Back 2

High level cloud

Front 3

Alto

Back 3

Middle level cloud

Front 4

Strato

Back 4

Low level cloud

Front 5

Appearance

Back 5

The second part of a cloud name reflects this aspect of the cloud

Front 6

Cirrus

Back 6

Thin and wispy cloud

Front 7

Stratus

Back 7

Cloud that is horizontal or sheet-like in appearance

Front 8

Cumulus

Back 8

Represents a cloud of vertical development

Front 9

Cumulus

Back 9

Clouds that tend to have a flat base and billow up

Front 10

Nimb

Back 10

Precipitation-producing cloud

Front 11

10

Back 11

There are this many basic types of clouds

Front 12

Height

Back 12

The basic types of clouds are classified according to this characteristic

Front 13

High Level

Back 13

These types of clouds are generally found above 20,000 feet

Front 14

High Level

Back 14

These types of clouds are made up of ice crystals

Front 15

High Level

Back 15

These types of clouds are not able to produce precipitation

Front 16

High Level

Back 16

These types of clouds produce no shadows

Front 17

High Level

Back 17

These types of clouds have “cirro-“ in their name

Front 18

High Level

Back 18

These types of clouds often foreshadow approaching weather systems or storms

Front 19

High Level

Back 19

Cirrus is this type of cloud

Front 20

Cirrus

Back 20

Latin for "wisp of hair"

Front 21

Cirrus

Back 21

This cloud has a thin, white, feathery appearance

Front 22

Cirrus

Back 22

This type of cloud usually has curled-up ends

Front 23

Cirrus

Back 23

This cloud was given the name "mare's tails" for its horsetail-like appearance

Front 24

Cirrostratus

Back 24

This type of cloud is high level and horizontal

Front 25

Cirrostratus

Back 25

An even layer of high clouds that blankets the sky in sheets

Front 26

White

Back 26

Cirrostratus clouds are often this in color

Front 27

Cirrostratus

Back 27

This cloud is so thin you might not even notice it

Front 28

Cirrostratus

Back 28

This cloud will often produce a halo/ring around the sun or moon

Front 29

Cirrocumulus

Back 29

This type of cloud is high level and vertical in development

Front 30

Cirrocumulus

Back 30

These clouds appear as a fine ripple pattern across the sky

Front 31

Cirrocumulus

Back 31

The linear pattern of these clouds give you a “mackerel sky” – like the scales of a fish

Front 32

White

Back 32

Cirrocumulus clouds are this in color

Front 33

Cumulus

Back 33

This name denotes that there is shape to the cloud

Front 34

Stratus

Back 34

This name denotes that there is no shape to the cloud and tells us it is flat and horizontal

Front 35

Cirrocumulus

Back 35

These clouds may stretch for hundreds of miles across the sky

Front 36

Middle Level

Back 36

These clouds are found between 6,500 and 20,000 feet in the sky

Front 37

Middle Level

Back 37

These clouds can be made up of both ice crystals and water droplets

Front 38

Middle Level

Back 38

These clouds will have “alto-” in their name

Front 39

Middle Level

Back 39

Altostratus is an example of this type of cloud

Front 40

High Level

Back 40

Cirrocumulus is an example of this type of cloud

Front 41

High Level

Back 41

Cirrostratus is an example of this type of cloud

Front 42

High Level

Back 42

Cirrus is an example of this type of cloud

Front 43

Altostratus

Back 43

This type of cloud is middle level and horizontal

Front 44

Altostratus

Back 44

This type of cloud has a uniform coverage across the sky and is dark and thick

Front 45

Altostratus

Back 45

These clouds are often associated with changing weather

Front 46

Altostratus

Back 46

The sun and moon are dimly lit through this cloud

Front 47

Altostratus

Back 47

These clouds give the sun or moon a "watery" appearance

Front 48

Altocumulus

Back 48

These clouds are middle level and vertical in development

Front 49

Middle Level

Back 49

Altocumulus clouds are an example of this type of cloud

Front 50

Altocumulus

Back 50

These clouds appear in thick linear bands

Front 51

Altocumulus

Back 51

These clouds look like sea waves across the sky

Front 52

Altocumulus

Back 52

These clouds often foreshadow possible afternoon thunderstorms

Front 53

Low Level

Back 53

These clouds are found below 6,500 feet

Front 54

Low Level

Back 54

These are your typical "cloudy day" cloud

Front 55

Low Level

Back 55

These clouds will have "strato" in their name

Front 56

Stratus

Back 56

These are the lowest of the low clouds

Front 57

Stratus

Back 57

These clouds form in sheets or layers

Front 58

Stratus

Back 58

These clouds will give the sky an overcast look

Front 59

Stratocumulus

Back 59

These clouds are typically found in groups or clusters

Front 60

Stratocumulus

Back 60

These clouds typically have little vertical development

Front 61

Stratocumulus

Back 61

These clouds have a well-defined flat base with a ragged upper surface

Front 62

Nimbostratus

Back 62

This is a precipitation producing cloud

Front 63

Nimbostratus

Back 63

This cloud produces light to moderate precipitation that lasts for longer periods of time

Front 64

Nimbostratus

Back 64

This cloud gives your sky that dark, overcast look

Front 65

Nimbostratus

Back 65

This cloud has a ragged base to it

Front 66

Nimbostratus

Back 66

Most of our snow comes from this type of cloud

Front 67

Clouds of Vertical Development

Back 67

These clouds have a low base and can billow up to a high top

Front 68

Clouds of Vertical Development

Back 68

These clouds are your typical "popcorn" type cloud

Front 69

Clouds of Vertical Development

Back 69

These clouds indicate active vertical development

Front 70

Cumulus Clouds

Back 70

These clouds have a puffy, cotton ball appearance

Front 71

Cumulus Clouds

Back 71

These are your typical fair weather clouds

Front 72

Cumulus Clouds

Back 72

Pockets of warm air rise to create these clouds

Front 73

Cumulonimbus

Back 73

This cloud is abbreviated "cb"

Front 74

Cumulonimbus

Back 74

This is a precipitation producing cloud

Front 75

Cumulonimbus

Back 75

This is our thunderstorm cloud

Front 76

Cumulonimbus

Back 76

Cloud that produces heavy precipitation that lasts for shorter periods of time

Front 77

Cumulonimbus

Back 77

This cloud produces lightening, thunder, hail, gusty winds, and tornadoes

Front 78

Cumulonimbus

Back 78

Cloud that has a low base and billows up to a high top

Front 79

Growth

Back 79

The well-defined, sharp edges on a cumulonimbus cloud is where this is occuring

Front 80

Precipitation

Back 80

The part of the cumulonimbus cloud that lacks the well-defined, sharp edges is where this is occuring

Front 81

Cumulonimbus

Back 81

This type of cloud has a low base and a very high top (40,000 feet)

Front 82

Low Level

Back 82

Stratus is this type of cloud

Front 83

Low Level

Back 83

Stratocumulus is this type of cloud

Front 84

Low Level

Back 84

Nimbostratus is this type of cloud

Front 85

Cloud of Vertical Development

Back 85

Cumulus cloud is this type of cloud

Front 86

Cloud of Vertical Development

Back 86

Cumulonimbus cloud is this type of cloud

Front 87

Unusual

Back 87

Contrail is this type of cloud

Front 88

Contrail

Back 88

This is a man made cloud

Front 89

Contrail

Back 89

This cloud is formed from the condensation of jet exhaust

Front 90

Fumulus

Back 90

Man-made cloud formed from power plant exhaust

Front 91

Mammalus

Back 91

Cloud that look like pouches hanging from the underside of cumulonimbus clouds

Front 92

Mammalus

Back 92

This cloud resembles a cow's udder

Front 93

Fog

Back 93

A cloud in contact with the ground

Front 94

Radiation Fog

Back 94

Type of fog that occurs at night when the ground loses heat through radiation

Front 95

Radiation Fog

Back 95

This type of fog is common in valleys and low lying areas

Front 96

Radiation Fog

Back 96

This type of fog has a diurnal cycle

Front 97

Radiation Fog

Back 97

This type of fog is associated with high pressure

Front 98

Advection Fog

Back 98

This is the most common type of fog

Front 99

Advection Fog

Back 99

This type of fog covers large areas

Front 100

Advection Fog

Back 100

This fog is widespread and long-lasting

Front 101

Advection Fog

Back 101

This fog is caused by cooling by contact

Front 102

Advection Fog

Back 102

This fog forms over cold water bodies and snow covered ground

Front 103

Evaporation Fog

Back 103

This type of fog results when water vapor is added to cold air that is already near saturation

Front 104

Evaporation Fog

Back 104

This type of fog occurs over water

Front 105

Evaporation Fog

Back 105

This type of fog is sometimes referred to as “steam fog”

Front 106

Evaporation Fog

Back 106

When you can see your breath, you are producing this fog

Front 107

Dew

Back 107

Tiny droplets of water formed by condensation of water vapor at or near Earth’s surface

Front 108

Cooling by Radiation

Back 108

Dew is caused by this

Front 109

High Pressure

Back 109

This pressure is needed for dew to form

Front 110

Frost

Back 110

Forms when the dew point temperature is below freezing

Front 111

Frost

Back 111

With this form of condensation, you are going from a water vapor state directly to a frozen state

Front 112

High

Back 112

Frost is associated with this type of pressure

Front 113

Below Freezing

Back 113

The dew point must be this for frost to form

Front 114

Rain

Back 114

The most common and widespread form of precipitation

Front 115

1/10 and 1/4 of an inch

Back 115

Typical raindrop is between this in diameter

Front 116

Snow

Back 116

Solid precipitation in the form of ice crystal,s small pellets, or flakes

Front 117

Snow

Back 117

This condensation is water vapor to frozen state

Front 118

Glaze/Freezing Rain

Back 118

Rain that turns into ice the instant it collects with a solid object

Front 119

Glaze/Freezing Rain

Back 119

This precipitation creates thick coats of ice on things

Front 120

Glaze/Freezing Rain

Back 120

Often known as an "ice storm"

Front 121

Sleet

Back 121

Small raindrops that freeze during descent and reach the ground as small pellets of ice

Front 122

Hail

Back 122

Small pellets or larger lumps of ice generated within a cumulonimbus cloud

Front 123

Cumulonimbus

Back 123

Hail is generated within this type of cloud

Front 124

Hail

Back 124

Forms as a result of strong updrafts and downdrafts in a cumulonimbus cloud

Front 125

Cumulonimbus

Back 125

Hail forms as a result of strong updrafts and downdrafts in this type of cloud

Front 126

Air Mass

Back 126

A huge volume of air that is relatively uniform in temperature, humidity, pressure, and stability

Front 127

1000 miles

Back 127

A volume of air must be this large across to be considered an air mass

Front 128

Original Characteristics

Back 128

An air mass must retain this

Front 129

Continental Arctic

Back 129

The source region of this air mass is the Arctic Ocean

Front 130

cA

Back 130

This is the abbreviation for Continental Arctic

Front 131

Continental Arctic

Back 131

The characteristics of this air mass is that it is very cold, very dry, and very stable

Front 132

Continental Arctic

Back 132

This air mass is best developed in winter

Front 133

Continental Polar and Maritime Tropical

Back 133

These are the two air masses most commonly influencing Illinois

Front 134

Continental Polar

Back 134

The source region of this air mass is Canada

Front 135

cP

Back 135

This is the abbreviation for Continental Polar

Front 136

Continental Polar

Back 136

The characteristics of this air mass is that it is cold, dry, and very stable

Front 137

Maritime Tropical

Back 137

The source region of this air mass is the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

Front 138

Maritime Tropical

Back 138

The characteristics of this air mass is that it is warm, humid, and generally unstable

Front 139

mT

Back 139

This is the abbreviation for the Maritime Tropical air mass

Front 140

mP

Back 140

This is the abbreviation for the Maritime Polar air mass

Front 141

Maritime Polar

Back 141

The source region of this air mass is the Northern Pacific and Northern Atlantic oceans

Front 142

Maritime Polar

Back 142

The characteristics of this air mass is it is cool, humid, and generally unstable

Front 143

cT

Back 143

This is the abbreviation for the Continental Tropical air mass

Front 144

Continental Tropical

Back 144

The source region of this air mass is the southwest United States and Northern Mexico

Front 145

Continental Tropical

Back 145

The characteristics of this air mass is that it is hot, very dry, and generally unstable

Front 146

Front

Back 146

This divides temperature differences between warm and cold air

Front 147

Miles

Back 147

A typical front is several _____ or even tens of ____ wide

Front 148

Warm Front

Back 148

With this front, semicircles point in the direction that the air is heading towards

Front 149

Warm Front

Back 149

This front is formed by advancing warm air

Front 150

Maritime Tropical

Back 150

This air mass is the dominant warm front air mass

Front 151

Nimbostratus

Back 151

This cloud is the typical precipitation cloud associated with a warm front

Front 152

Warm Front

Back 152

This front is associated with gradual lifting

Front 153

Cold Front

Back 153

This front is formed by advancing cold air

Front 154

Continental Polar

Back 154

This air mass is the dominant cold front air mass

Front 155

Cumulonimbus

Back 155

This is the typical precipitation cloud associated with cold fronts

Front 156

Cold Front

Back 156

Which moves faster: a cold front or a warm front?

Front 157

Cold Front

Back 157

This front is associated with rapid lifting

Front 158

Stationary Front

Back 158

Front found at the beginning of a storm system when the air masses meet

Front 159

Stationary Front

Back 159

With this front, weather is not predictable

Front 160

Occluded Front

Back 160

This front is formed when the cold front overtakes the warm front

Front 161

Occluded Front

Back 161

This front signals the end stages of an storm system

Front 162

Occluded Front

Back 162

On a weather map, this front has semicircles and triangles pointed in the same direction

Front 163

Stationary Front

Back 163

On a weather map, this front has semicircles and triangles pointed in opposite directions

Front 164

Arctic Ocean

Back 164

This is the source region of the Continental Arctic air mass

Front 165

Canada

Back 165

This is the source region of the Continental Polar air mass

Front 166

Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Back 166

This is the source region of the Maritime Tropical air mass

Front 167

Northern Pacific and Northern Atlantic Oceans

Back 167

This is the source region of the Maritime Polar air mass

Front 168

Southwest United States and Northern Mexico

Back 168

This is the source region of the Continental Tropical air mass