The document explains the process of cloud formation, detailing how rising air parcels expand and cool, leading to condensation and cloud droplet formation. It categorizes clouds into three altitude groups: high (e.g., cirrus, cirrocumulus), middle (e.g., altostratus, altocumulus), and low (e.g., cumulus, stratus, nimbostratus) with descriptions of their appearances. Additionally, it mentions various mechanisms of cloud formation, such as convection currents and frontal activity.

1. Cloud formation

3. Rising Air
• Imagine a block of air, or air parcel, rising
upward through the atmosphere.
• The air parcel expands as it rises and this
expansion and causes the temperature of the
air parcel to decrease.

4. Condensation
• As the parcel rises the air is cooler.
• Cold air holds less water than hot air,
therefore, the water vapor gets closer
together, and cloud droplets begin forming.
CONDENSATION
Water vapor combing to
make water droplets

5. Formation…
• This can happen through many different ways
– Convection Currents
– Lifting
– Frontal Activity

6. Convection Currents

7. Lifting (help of mountains)

8. Frontal Activity (Warm & Cold)

10. • There are many different types of clouds.
They are classified as:
• High Altitude
• Middle Altitude
• Low

11. • HIGH ALTITUDE CLOUDS:
• Cirrocumulus – Puffy, patchy look with spaces
• Cirrostratus – light gray or white, thin, covers
most of the sky.
• Cirrus – thin wispy and feathery appearance

12. • MIDDLE ATLTITUDE CLOUDS:
• Altocumulus – puffy, patchy look with spaces
• Altostratus – light gray and uniform in
appearance. Covers most of the sky.

13. • LOW ATITUDE CLOUDS:
• Cumulus – puffy, looks like cotton balls/popcorn
• Stratus – light/dark gray and uniform. Fog!
• Stratocumulus – irregular masses, rolling or puffy with
spaces.
• Nimbostratus – dark gray with precipitation falling from
them. Bases are hard to see b/c of rain.
• Cumulonimbus – large clouds w/ dark bases and tall
billowing towers. Also known as “Thunder Clouds”

14. LOW ATITUDE CLOUDS (close up)

15. LOW ATITUDE CLOUDS (close up)

16. LOW ATITUDE CLOUDS (close ups)

17. What questions do you have about cloud formation or types of clouds?