Weather and CloudsWeather and Clouds

MeteorologyMeteorology: The study of the atmosphere : The study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.forecasting.

Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

What is weather?What is weather? Refers to the state of the atmosphere Refers to the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.at a specific time and place.

The one thing that you can talk to The one thing that you can talk to anybody aboutanybody about

It affects your daily life- what to wear, It affects your daily life- what to wear, what activities you will be able to do, what activities you will be able to do, etc.etc.

How do we observe the weather?How do we observe the weather? Using our sensesUsing our senses Using instrumentsUsing instruments

4 4 factorsfactors affect the weather of an affect the weather of an area and how we measure them.area and how we measure them.

1.1. TemperatureTemperature, the , the measure of the measure of the average amount of average amount of motion in particles.motion in particles.

Instrument: Instrument: thermometerthermometer

2. 2. AirAir pressurepressure the amount of force exerted the amount of force exerted on an area by the air molecules\on an area by the air molecules\

Instrument: barometerInstrument: barometer

3. 3. WindWind movement of air from an movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.low pressure.

Instrument: anemometer (speed) Instrument: anemometer (speed) and wind vane (direction)and wind vane (direction)

4. 4. HumidityHumidity: The amount of water vapor : The amount of water vapor present in the airpresent in the air

Instrument: hygrometerInstrument: hygrometer

Clouds can play a role in helping Clouds can play a role in helping forecasters predict changes in forecasters predict changes in

the weather.the weather.

CloudsClouds

What are clouds?What are clouds?Masses of small water droplets or tiny ice Masses of small water droplets or tiny ice crystals that float in the air.crystals that float in the air.

How do clouds form?How do clouds form? They form as They form as warmwarm

air rises upward, air rises upward, expands, and cools.expands, and cools.

As the air cools, the As the air cools, the water vapor water vapor condenses back into condenses back into a liquida liquid

Formation continued…Formation continued…

Water vapor forms tiny Water vapor forms tiny liquid droplets around liquid droplets around small particles such as small particles such as dust and salt.dust and salt.

These droplets of water These droplets of water are so small that they are so small that they remain suspended in the remain suspended in the air.air.

BILLIONS of these BILLIONS of these droplets form a cloud.droplets form a cloud.

Clouds can form and un-form Clouds can form and un-form depending on moisture levelsdepending on moisture levels

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1803/es1803page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Classifying CloudsClassifying Clouds Clouds are Clouds are

classified mainly classified mainly by their shape and by their shape and height.height.

Shape and height Shape and height vary with vary with temperature, temperature, pressure, and the pressure, and the amount of water amount of water vapor in the vapor in the atmosphere.atmosphere.

Shapes of CloudsShapes of Clouds

Three main shapes are Stratus (layer/stretched out), Three main shapes are Stratus (layer/stretched out), Cumulus (puffy), and Cirrus (wispy).Cumulus (puffy), and Cirrus (wispy).

StratusStratus– Form at low altitudesForm at low altitudes

– Associated with fair weather, RAIN, or Associated with fair weather, RAIN, or SNOWSNOW

– When air is cooled to its dew point near When air is cooled to its dew point near the ground it forms a stratus cloud called the ground it forms a stratus cloud called FOG.FOG.

CumulusCumulus

Masses of puffy, white clouds, often with flat Masses of puffy, white clouds, often with flat bases.bases.– They tower to great heights!They tower to great heights!– Associated with fair weather or thunderstormsAssociated with fair weather or thunderstorms– These are the type of clouds you make figures These are the type of clouds you make figures

out of.out of.

CirrusCirrus

Appear fibrous, wispy, or curly.Appear fibrous, wispy, or curly.– They are high, thin, white, feathery clouds made They are high, thin, white, feathery clouds made

of ice crystals.of ice crystals.– Associated with fair, sunny weather, but they Associated with fair, sunny weather, but they

can sometimes indicate approaching storms.can sometimes indicate approaching storms.

Rain producingRain producing Not all clouds bring rainNot all clouds bring rain Clouds associated with rain or snow have Clouds associated with rain or snow have

the word “nimbus” attached to themthe word “nimbus” attached to them ““nimbus” is Latin for “dark rain cloud”nimbus” is Latin for “dark rain cloud” Thunderstorms are produced in towering Thunderstorms are produced in towering

clouds called “cumulonimbus”clouds called “cumulonimbus”

Height of cloudsHeight of clouds Prefixes help us also determine other types of Prefixes help us also determine other types of

clouds.clouds.– Cirro = high cloudsCirro = high clouds– Alto = middle level cloudsAlto = middle level clouds– Strato = low elevationStrato = low elevation

Examples: Cirrocumulus: fluffy, high, cotton-type Examples: Cirrocumulus: fluffy, high, cotton-type cloudsclouds

Cirrostratus: thin sheets, Cirrostratus: thin sheets,

high whitish layers of cloudshigh whitish layers of clouds

Height of CloudsHeight of Clouds Cirro- High Alto – Middle Strato- low

reviewreview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWeorlkJ39M cloud formation review cloud formation review

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGVVqeJodR_ZJFROtwcepa5LOsMcuEJWX

http://media.wfyi.org/IndianaExpeditions/IDEXSeason2_2009/IDEX205/IDEX205CloudinaBottleLesson.pdfcloud in a bottle has them compare a bottle  with smoke  added and one without showing the cloud needs the smoke to form

GUESS the CLOUD!GUESS the CLOUD!

Cirrus (high wispy)Cirrus (high wispy)

Cirrocumulus (high and puffy)Cirrocumulus (high and puffy)

Cumulus (puffy)Cumulus (puffy)

Cumulonimbus (puffy and rainy)Cumulonimbus (puffy and rainy)

Altostratus (middle stretched out)Altostratus (middle stretched out)

Nimbostratus (low rain cloud)Nimbostratus (low rain cloud)

Stratocumulus (low and puffy)Stratocumulus (low and puffy)

Stratus (stretched out cloud Stratus (stretched out cloud layer)layer)

Altocumulus (middle level puffy)Altocumulus (middle level puffy)

Cirrostratus (high, wispy, Cirrostratus (high, wispy, stretched out)stretched out)

Making your own cloudsMaking your own clouds http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-21034217http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-21034217

A startled, ghostly figure A startled, ghostly figure stands and screams stands and screams beneath a swirling, fire-beneath a swirling, fire-red sky. red sky.

Edvard Munch’s painting Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream The Scream is one of the is one of the most iconic images from most iconic images from art. art.

Its haunting sky was a Its haunting sky was a real meteorological real meteorological phenomenon.phenomenon.

In 1883, the eruption of the volcano In 1883, the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa (Krakatu) spewed ash into the Krakatoa (Krakatu) spewed ash into the atmosphere. atmosphere.

Dust and ash in the stratosphere interfered Dust and ash in the stratosphere interfered with sunlight and created dramatic sunsets with sunlight and created dramatic sunsets as far away as Northern Europe and the as far away as Northern Europe and the United States one of which was depicted in United States one of which was depicted in The Scream.The Scream.

Weather inspired musicWeather inspired music

http://www.weather.com/news/songs-and-http://www.weather.com/news/songs-and-weather-20130201weather-20130201

http://www.songfacts.com/category-http://www.songfacts.com/category-songs_with_weather_conditions_in_the_titlesongs_with_weather_conditions_in_the_title.php.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULvujTon5tUv=ULvujTon5tU

What are weather frontsWhat are weather fronts– https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=G7Ewqm0YHUI#t=17v=G7Ewqm0YHUI#t=17– Reading a weather map: Reading a weather map:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl_FFK_HbjYv=wl_FFK_HbjYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIflLvYIn3U&feature=autoplay&list=EC77ECE976316E5992&playnext=1 Simple thermometer/barometer lab