The Atmosphere and Clouds

THE ATMOSPHERE AND CLOUDS
 Atmospheric weather system are fueled by solar input and

characterized by air masses in motion, circulating winds, cloud
generation, and changes in temperature and pressure. Lifting
mechanism are required for moist air masses to cool and approach
saturation condition. As a result of the interaction of rising air masses
with atmospheric moisture, the presence of small atmospheric nuclei,
and droplet growth, precipitation in the form of rain, snow or hail can
result.
 Horizontal variations in atmospheric pressure cause air to move from
higher pressure towards lower pressure, resulting in the generation of
wind. Also the vertical displacement causes air to move as well, but
at a far slower rate than horizontal winds.
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Cloud particles are about 5 to 75
micrometers (0.0005 to 0.0008
cm/0.0002 to 0.003 in) in size,
which explains why it is very
light.
Clouds are the principal visible
phenomena of the atmosphere.
A cloud is a visible mass of tiny

particles of water or ice, or a
mixture of both, suspended in the
air.
HOW FOGS AND CLOUDS FORM

 The water vapor in the atmosphere remains dispersed and invisible.
The amount of the water vapor that the air can hold increases as the
temperature rises. The dew point is the temperature at which the
atmosphere is saturated, or holding all the moisture it can. The dew
point varies from place to place, depending on the amount of
moisture on the air and in the air pressure.
 As temperature drop to the dew point, water vapor starts to form tiny
droplets or ice crystals on airborne particles such as dust and particles
of sea salt. At ground level or just above, the condensed water vapor
is visible as fog, mist or haze. At height of more than 3 miles (0.5
km), the condensing vapor form cloud. The chief difference between
fogs and clouds is their distance from the earth surface.

 Fog can form in sea or land. Their density or thickness depends upon
the number and the size of water droplets in the air.
 There is even less water in a light fog called Haze. Mist is the word
used to describe fog that is approaching the form of rain. A mist is
generally more transparent than fog, and contains countless tiny
droplets that can be seen floating or falling through the air.
 Clouds perform a very important function in modifying the
distribution of solar heat over the earth’s surface and within the
atmosphere. In general, because from the tops of clouds is greater
than reflection from the surface of the earth, the amount of solar
energy reflected back to space

is greater on cloudy days. Although most solar radiation is reflected
back by the upper layers of the clouds, some radiation penetrates to the
surface of the earth, which absorbs this energy and reradiates it. The
lower parts of clouds are opaque to this long – wave earth radiation and
reflect it back toward earth. The result is that the lower atmosphere
generally absorbs more radiative heat energy on a cloudy day because of
the presence of this trapped radiation. By contrast, on a clear day more
solar radiation is initially absorbed by the surface of the surface of the
earth, but when reradiated this energy is quickly dissipated because of
the absense of clouds. Disregarding related meteorological elements, the
atmosphere actually absorbs less radiation on clear days than on cloudy
days.

CLOUD CLASSIFICATION

 1801 – Jean Lamarck was the first person who conceptualized the
classification of clouds.
 1803 – two years later after Lamarck conceptualized the classification
of clouds, the English scientist Luke Howard created a classification
which was adapted by the International Meteorological Commission
in 1929.
 The first scientific study of cloud began in 1803, when a method of
cloud classification was devised by the British meteorologist Luke
Howard.
 In 1887, Ralph Abercromby and Hugo Hildebrandsson expanded
Howard’s original system and published a classification system that
later formed the basis for the noted International Cloud Atlas in 1896.
 Clouds are divided into four main families on the basis of their height
above the ground:
a) High Clouds
b) Middle Clouds
c) Low Clouds; and
d) Clouds with vertical development
 The four main divisions are further subdivided into genera, species,
and varieties, which describe in detail the appearance of clouds and
the manner in which they are formed. More than 100 different kinds
of clouds are distinguishable. Only the primary families and most
important genera are described below.

 High Level Clouds – forms above 6000 – 12000 meters (6-12
kilometers) and are primarily composed of ice crystals. Denoted by
the prefix cirro- or cirrus and includes cirrus, cirrocumulus and
altostratus.
 Mid Level Clouds – their bases appear between 2000 to 6000 meters
(2-6 kilometers). Composed primarily of water droplets although they
can also be composed of ice crystals when temperature are clouds
enough. Denoted by the prefix alto- and includes altocumulus and
altostratus.
 Low Level Clouds – their bases generally lie between 800 to 2000
meters. Mostly composed of water droplets but may also contain ice
particles and snow. Includes stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus.
 Vertically Developed Clouds – these clouds has an average height of
500 meters that tends to rise vertically and often produce rain or snow.
Includes cumulus and cumulonimbus.
Cloud Types
clouds are generally classified according to genera in which Latin
word are used to describe the appearance of clouds as seen by an
observer on the ground. The table below summarizes the four principal
components of this classification system.
Latin Root Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Nimbus

Translation Heap Layer Curl of Layer Rain
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THE ATMOSPHERE AND CLOUDS

 Atmospheric weather system are fueled by solar input and

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A cloud is a visible mass of tiny

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Latin Root Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Nimbus

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