Cloud Types

Clouds are categorized by there classified according to their height above and appearance (texture) from the ground.

Cloud family and height	Cloud type	Characteristics
High clouds- above 20,000ft	Cirrus   Cirrostratus     Cirrocumulus	Thin delicate, fibrous, ice crystal clouds   Thin sheet of white, ice crystal clouds  that may give the sky a milky look   Thin, white, ice crystal clouds. In the form of ripples or waves
Middle clouds- 6,500 to 20,000ft	Altocumulus     Altostratus	White to gray clouds often made up of separate globules     Stratified veil of clouds that is generally thin and may produce very light precipitation
Low clouds- 6,500ft	Stratus     Stratocumulus   Nimbostratus	Low uniform layer resembling fog but not resting on the ground    Soft, gray clouds in globular patches or rolls.   Amorphous layer of dark clouds.
Clouds of vertical development	Cumulus     Cumulonimbus	Dense, billowy clouds often categorized by flat bases   Towering clouds, sometimes spreading out on top to form an “anvil hammer”

 

Cloud Questions:

- where does the name cloud come from?

-can there be no clouds in the sky?

- how are clouds made?
-how many cloud types are there?
-why do clouds take shape?
-do clouds move?-can there be no clouds in the sky?

Sharnado research

In Meteorology class recently we've researched sharknados. My research was particually on what is a shark? Well a sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha and are the sister group to the rays. However, the term "shark" has also been used for extinct members of the subclass Elasmobranchii outside the Selachimorpha, such as Cladoselache and Xenacanthus. Under this broader definition, the earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago.

 

 

Snow Experiment

The other day on Monday March 3,2014 we did our snow experiments in Meteorolgy Class. The group that I was in decided to try too burn the snow with a lighter. As you can see in the picture below the snow is turning black from the lighter but this isnt due to the snow actually burning but from the soot created from the flame 

 

We also did a second experiment with a bunsen burner. Unlike the lighter the bunsen burner creates a clean flame which means there is no soot created. Since there is no soot the snow only melts and does not turn black.