7/25/2019 Pdfcloud Types Article WMWFQ

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pdfcloud-types-article-wmwfq 1/3

Name: _______________________ 

  ypes of Clouds

by Erin Ryan

When you look up in the sky, you realize that no two clouds look exactly alike. Clouds are formed from water vapor thatcondenses then clusters together in droplets. here are many different types of clouds that can !e seen. he types of

clouds are determined !ased on what they look like and how high they are in the atmosphere.

High-Level Clouds Mid-Level Clouds Low-Level Clouds Vertical Clouds

"igh#level clouds are formed

in altitudes a!ove $%,%%%

feet. &ecause the

temperatures are so cold at

this elevation, these clouds

are formed from ice crystals.

Cirrus clouds are thin and

wispy clouds that are !lown

!y high winds. hey usually

mean the day will have fair or

pleasant weather, and follow

the direction that the air

moves at the altitude they

are found at.

Cirrostratus clouds are like

very thin sheets of clouds that

cover large parts of the sky.

Cirrocumulus clouds look likesmall round puffs in the sky.

'ometimes they are called

mackerel clouds !ecause

they look similar to fish scales.

(id#level clouds are found in

altitudes !etween ),*%% to

$%,%%% feet. hey are formed

mainly of water droplets, !ut

can also !e made up of ice

crystals when the

temperature is cold enough.

+ltocumulus clouds are

composed of water droplets

and are gray and puffy.

hese clouds are usually seen

on warm and humid summer

mornings and are usually a

sign that thunderstorms will

follow later in the day.

+ltostratus clouds are made

up of ice crystals and water

droplets. hey can cover the

entire sky and form !eforerain storms.

ow#level clouds are found

!elow ),*%% feet and

although they are mostly

made up of water droplets.

hey can also !e composed

of ice particles and snow in

very cold temperatures.

'tratus clouds are among the

low#lying clouds. hey are

gray clouds that cover the

entire sky and can !e the

result of very thick fog lifting in

the morning.

Nim!ostratus clouds are dark

gray clouds that produce

falling rain or snow.

Cumulus and cumulonim!us

clouds are !oth known as

vertical clouds.

Cumulus clouds are also

called fair weather clouds

and look like floating cotton.hey have very flat !ases and

are not very tall clouds.

When cumulus clouds are first

formed from droplets, they

have very distinct edges, !ut

as they move through the sky,

air causes the edges to

appear more ragged and

!roken apart.

Cumulonim!us clouds can

take up several miles across

the sky and can reach

elevations of -,%%% feet orhigher !ecause of very strong

updrafts in the atmosphere.

ow level cumulonim!us

clouds are made up of water

droplets, !ut at higher

elevations, they consist of ice

crystals. Cumulonim!us

clouds are the type of clouds

that !ring lightning, thunder,

violent tornadoes and other

intense weather situations.

 Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

7/25/2019 Pdfcloud Types Article WMWFQ

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pdfcloud-types-article-wmwfq 2/3

Name: _______________________ 

  ypes of Clouds

by Erin Ryan

  1. Name the two types of low#level clouds.

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  2. What type of clouds are called /fair weather clouds0

and look like floating cotton1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  3. Name two types of clouds that are !etween $%,%%%and ),*%% feet in the air.

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  . Which type of clouds !rings lightning, thunder,

and tornadoes1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  !. +re stratus clouds or cirrus clouds found closer 

to the ground1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  ". What are cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus

clouds made of1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  #. What type of cloud is often formed !y fog lifting

in the morning1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

  $. Why are cirrocumulus clouds sometimes called

mackerel clouds1

 ____________________________________________________________ 

 Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

7/25/2019 Pdfcloud Types Article WMWFQ

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pdfcloud-types-article-wmwfq 3/3

%&'(ER )E*

  ypes of Clouds

by Erin Ryan

  1. Name the two types of low#level clouds.

stratus and ni+bostratus

  2. What type of clouds are called /fair weather clouds0

and look like floating cotton1

cu+ulusnote, Cirrus clouds oten +ean air weather too but they do not loo/ li/e cotton.

  3. Name two types of clouds that are !etween $%,%%%

and ),*%% feet in the air.

altocu+ulus and altostratus

  . Which type of clouds !rings lightning, thunder,

and tornadoes1

cu+uloni+bus

  !. +re stratus clouds or cirrus clouds found closer to the ground1

stratus

  ". What are cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus

clouds made of1

ice crystals

  #. What type of cloud is often formed !y fog lifting

in the morning1

stratus

  $. Why are cirrocumulus clouds sometimes called

mackerel clouds1

0hey loo/ li/e ish scales.

 Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com