Cloud Formations and Types

You may have seen white or sometimes black masses of cloud in the sky. They are nothing but small condensed drops of water. Formation of clouds is a natural phenomena and by studying its shape and type, weather conditions can be predicted. On all planets which have an atmosphere, cloud formation take place. When water evaporates it forms vapors, which in turn rise up and move to the Earth's atmosphere, where they are condensed into small droplets. The following paragraphs would give you an idea the various types of clouds and how they form, so that you have a better understanding.

Cloud Formations and What they Mean

More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water and when the sun shines on its surface, they form vapors and rises up into the atmosphere. Whether it's oceans, rivers or lakes, millions of water droplets are evaporated every day in the form of vapors. As the vapors rise up into the atmosphere, it comes in contact with cooler air and as such becomes cooler. With the cooling of air, the vapors condense and become saturated into small water droplets. When millions of such water droplets collect, they form clouds. Formation of clouds mean that there's water in the atmosphere. Moreover, if there is heavy presence of clouds, there is a chance that it would rain in the near future.

Types of Cloud Formations

There are basically four ways by which moist air in the form of water vapor rises up, forming clouds - orographic lifting, convective lifting, widespread ascent and mechanical (or frictional) turbulence.

Orographic lifting is the process wherein moist water vapor is forced to rise high up to the atmosphere, due to the presence of a barrier, like a hill or mountain. When the air passes through such a terrain, the air cools down, thereby condensing water droplets, and in the process forming clouds. On the other hand, convective lifting is the process wherein water from the surface of the earth heats up and rises in the form of bubbles and thermal currents.

Widespread ascent is a process wherein warm air from the surface of the earth, and cool air from the atmosphere, forms an interaction. When the warm and cold air meets each other, water vapor starts condensing, thereby forming clouds. Many a time due to turbulence in the upper atmosphere the free flow of air is hindered. And as such the air starts blowing in circular pattern and this condition is called mechanical turbulence. In this condition, the warm moist air comes in contact with such turbulence, thereby condensing the water vapors, and in the process forming clouds.

Cloud Types for Kids

While teaching cloud types to kids and what they mean, you need to teach them the whole condensation process before going into the intricacies of the same. There are different types of clouds, which are basically divided into four broad types - high-level, mid-level, low-level and vertically developed clouds. These classifications are done to distinguish the height at which these clouds are located. High-level clouds (also called cirrus clouds) are situated at a height of more than 6 km, the middle-level ones (also called alto clouds) are at a distance of 2.5 to 6 km, while the low-level ones (stratus clouds) are at a height of less than 2.5 km from the earth's surface. The height of vertically developed clouds can range from the surface of the earth to more than 13 km above the surface of the earth.

High-level clouds are formed high up in the earth's atmosphere and are mainly formed from ice crystals, as the temperature high above the earth's surface is very cold. They are usually white in color and appear very thin. On the other hand, middle-level clouds usually are composed of tiny water droplets. However, they can also be formed from ice crystals if the atmospheric temperature is very cold, while the low-level clouds that are composed completely of water droplets.

Vertically developed clouds are mainly formed by the process of frontal lifting or thermal convection. These clouds can be very dangerous as they have the potential of forming thunderstorms and heavy showers.

So, cloud formations and its types depends on the kind of atmospheric condition in that particular region. Basically, clouds are formed due to the evaporation of water into the earth's atmosphere which are condensed to form clouds.