A study on the common cloud types and their influence on the weather

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

14 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

04/19/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Ecology & environment

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Summary :

What are clouds?
1. Impact of clouds
Cloud classification
1. Classification by appearance and process of formation
2. Classification by height
Cirrus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Cirrocumulus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Cirrostratus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Altocumulus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Altostratus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Nimbostratus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Stratus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Stratocumulus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Cumulus Clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
Cumulonimbus clouds
1. Species and varieties
2. Impact on the weather
References

Abstract

The heat from the sun's energy results in the water at the surface of the earth, mainly in oceans warming and converting into gaseous water vapor. The presence of such water vapor makes air moist or humid. The air near the ground rises when it becomes warm due to the sun's rays, and when it rise it takes the water vapor along with it to the upper layers of the atmosphere. As this warm air reaches the upper portion of the atmosphere, it mixes with the cool air there. Since cool air cannot hold as much water vapor as warm air, the water vapor condenses into either tiny drops of water or tiny ice crystals, forming around the many dust particles that always float around in the atmosphere. When billions of such water coated dust particles come together, they become a visible cloud. These clouds move with the wind and float because their weight is insignificant. However, with the addition of more and more water droplets, the weight increases and the air can no longer support the clouds. This is when these clouds fall down as rain or snow.

Clouds appear white when they reflect all the colors of the sun equally. However, when clouds get thicker all the sun's light does not reflect back and the cloud spot a gray appearance.

Clouds play a role in determining the temperature. Low-level clouds reflect about 20 percent of the sun's energy back into space, and as such, cloudy days are relatively cooler.