What term describes large clouds that produce precipitation?
The cumulonimbus cloud, or thunderstorm, is a convective cloud or cloud system that produces rainfall and lightning. It often produces large hail, severe wind gusts, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall.
Which cloud type is best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky?
Stratus (stratus = a layer) are clouds best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky. Cirrus clouds are high, white, and thin.
What type of cloud covers much or all of the sky in sheets or layers quizlet?
There are three members in the family of low clouds: stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus. – Stratus clouds are a uniform, fog-like layer of clouds that frequently covers much of the sky.
Which of the following cloud types is most commonly associated with precipitation?
Almost all rain is produced from low-level clouds. Stratus clouds produce steady rains, and cumulus clouds produce intense, stormy precipitation. Mid-level clouds can tip you off to the potential for these precipitation-producing cloud types to develop and may even produce an occasional sprinkle themselves.
What are wispy clouds called?
Cirrus clouds Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals. They often are the first sign of an approaching warm front or upper-level jet streak. Unlike cirrus, cirrostratus clouds form more of a widespread, veil-like layer (similar to what stratus clouds do in low levels).
What are the highest clouds?
Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds, although the ice crystals evaporate high above the earth's surface.
What are the high clouds called?
High-level clouds: The three main types of high clouds are cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus. Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals.
What are high level clouds made of?
High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) and since the temperatures are so cold at such high elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals. High-level clouds are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array of colors when the sun is low on the horizon.
What is the name for a cloud shape that has a wispy or feathery appearance?
Cirrus clouds Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands. Weather prediction: A change is on its way!
What are nimbus clouds?
A nimbus cloud is a cloud that produces precipitation. Usually the precipitation reaches the ground as rain, hail, snow, or sleet. Falling precipitation may evaporate as virga. Since nimbus clouds are dense with water, they appear darker than other clouds.
What are high clouds called?
High-level clouds: The three main types of high clouds are cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus. Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals.
What are tall clouds called?
Genus cumulus: Towering vertical These large cumulus clouds have flat dark grey bases and very tall tower-like formations with tops mostly in the high level of the troposphere. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designates this species as towering cumulus (Tcu).
How high is a cirrus cloud?
between 15,000 and 30,000 feet Cirrus clouds form very high in the atmosphere, usually between 15,000 and 30,000 feet above ground, and occur year-round in the Keys. Type 1 cirrus are very thin and whispy, and are usually in the shape of strands and hooks, or looking like feathers or horse tails.
What is the highest level of clouds?
High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) and since the temperatures are so cold at such high elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals. High-level clouds are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array of colors when the sun is low on the horizon.
How high clouds are formed?
As air rises it cools and decreases pressure, spreading out. Clouds form when the air cools below the dewpoint, and the air can not hold as much water vapor. Clouds are made of water droplets or ice crystals that are so small and light they are able to stay in the air.
What are wispy high altitude clouds called?
Cirrus clouds are short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes. These delicate clouds are wispy, with a silky sheen, or look like tufts of hair. In the daytime, they are whiter than any other cloud in the sky.
What is the name for a cloud shape that has a wispy or feathery appearance quizlet?
Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands.
What are cumulus clouds?
What are cumulus clouds? Cumulus clouds are detached, individual, cauliflower-shaped clouds usually spotted in fair weather conditions. The tops of these clouds are mostly brilliant white tufts when lit by the Sun, although their base is usually relatively dark.
How is stratus clouds formed?
How do stratus clouds form? Stratus clouds form in calm, stable conditions when gentle breezes raise cool, moist air over colder land or ocean surfaces. These clouds can exist in a variety of thicknesses and are sometimes opaque enough to darken days, allowing for little light to pass through.
What do tall clouds mean?
While small Cumulus do not rain, if you notice Cumulus getting larger and extending higher into the atmosphere, it's a sign that intense rain is on the way. This is common in the summer, with morning Cumulus developing into deep Cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds in the afternoon.
What do high wispy clouds mean?
Cirrus clouds can mark the approach of a warm front – and rain. Shutterstock. Cirrus form very high in the atmosphere. They are wispy, being composed entirely of ice crystals falling through the atmosphere. If Cirrus are carried horizontally by winds moving at different speeds, they take a characteristic hooked shape.
How high up are cirrus clouds?
between 15,000 and 30,000 feet Cirrus clouds form very high in the atmosphere, usually between 15,000 and 30,000 feet above ground, and occur year-round in the Keys. Type 1 cirrus are very thin and whispy, and are usually in the shape of strands and hooks, or looking like feathers or horse tails.
What are high wispy clouds?
What are cirrus clouds? Cirrus clouds are short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes. These delicate clouds are wispy, with a silky sheen, or look like tufts of hair. In the daytime, they are whiter than any other cloud in the sky.
What are high-level clouds made of?
High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) and since the temperatures are so cold at such high elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals. High-level clouds are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array of colors when the sun is low on the horizon.
What are the highest clouds called?
Cirrus clouds Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals.
What are high altitude clouds?
Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds, although the ice crystals evaporate high above the earth's surface.
Why are cirrus clouds high?
Cirrus clouds are usually formed as warm, dry air rises, causing water vapor to undergo deposition onto rocky or metallic dust particles at high altitudes. The average cirrus cloud altitude increases as latitude decreases, but the altitude is always capped by the tropopause.
What is the name for a cloud shape that has a wispy or feathery appearance group of answer choices?
Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals. They often are the first sign of an approaching warm front or upper-level jet streak.
What kind of clouds are high level thin wispy and composed entirely of ice crystals any precipitation that falls from these clouds evaporates before it reaches the ground?
most comon of the high clouds. They are composed of ice and are thin, wispy clouds blown in high winds into long streamers. Cirrus clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather.
What are stratus clouds?
What are stratus clouds? Stratus clouds are low-level layers with a fairly uniform grey or white colour. Often the scene of dull, overcast days in its 'nebulosus' form, they can persist for long periods of time. They are the lowest-lying cloud type and sometimes appear at the surface in the form of mist or fog.