What is Clouds? | Weather – Clouds, Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts

What is Clouds?

Almost every day we see clouds. They hover in the sky above us and block the sun. Sometimes the clouds are white and puffy. Sometimes they are dark and cover the whole sky. Different types of clouds can mean different types of weather. Meteorologists study the formation and composition of clouds to better understand the weather.

What are clouds made of?

Clouds are made up of tiny particles or frozen water crystals.

How do Clouds form?

How do clouds form? Most clouds form when air warms in the atmosphere and cools. All air contains water vapor, and warm air can contain more water vapor than cold air. As the warm air cools, the steam turns into tiny water droplets or ice. As the air cools, many droplets form and eventually become clouds.

Cloud Levels

Clouds are often described by the extent or height where they form. There are high, medium and low clouds.

High – High-rise clouds form over 20,000 feet. Because it’s colder at the top, these clouds are mostly made up of ice crystals. High-level clouds often have the prefix “cirro” or “cirrus” in their name.

Middle – Medium to moderate clouds form at altitudes between 6,500 and 20,000 feet. They can be made up of water droplets or ice crystals. Medium clouds often have the word “alto” in their name.

Low – Low clouds form below 6,500 feet. They are usually composed mainly of water droplets. Low-level clouds often have the word “stratus” in their name.

Vertical – Some clouds are vertical clouds. These clouds are very tall and can cover many layers of clouds. Vertical clouds often have the word “cumulus” in their name.

Types of Clouds

Meteorologists combine the characteristics and grades of clouds to come up with ten main types of clouds:

• High Cloud – Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus

Cirrus – clouds are thin and thin high-level clouds. They appear in good weather.
Cirrocumulus – These are tall clouds that look like little cotton balls bunched together.
Cirrostratus – High, flat clouds that can cover the sky and make it appear overcast. These clouds signal that it may rain the next day or so.

• Middle Cloud – Altostratus, Altocumulus, Nimbostratus

Altostratus – Mid-level clouds form a dark gray blanket. Usually they are a sign of rain.
Altocumulus – Middle level clouds that are small, white, and puffy.
Nimbostratus – These are medium to low dark gray clouds. They often bring rain or snow.

• Low Cloud – Stratus, Stratocumulus

Stratus – Stratus are low flat clouds and tend to cover most of the sky. They are gray in color and can produce light rain or drizzle.
Stratocumulus – These are low, puffy, gray clouds. They can produce some rain and turn into nimbostratus clouds.

• Vertical – Cumulus, Cumulonimbus

Cumulus – Cumulus clouds are low to mid-level clouds. They are large, puffy and beautiful white clouds. They usually mean good weather unless they actually grow and turn into cumulus clouds.
Cumulonimbus – Cumulus clouds are very large clouds that extend from low to high. They can cause severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, and even tornadoes.

How do Clouds Float?

If clouds are made of water, how can they be suspended in the air? It turns out that the water droplets are very small, but have a large surface area that makes them impossible to fall. Like a speck of dust that you see suspended in the air.

However, even if they are very small and light, they will eventually topple over if there is no hot air rising underneath to hold them in place. Remember that clouds form when warm rising air cools. This warm air helps the clouds float.

Interesting Facts about Clouds

A cloud that forms over the ground is called a fog.