What kinds of clouds are there?
Different clouds have different functions. Some clouds bring precipitation which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Clouds are part of the Earth’s water cycle. When clouds form as part of the water cycle, it is called condensation. Precipitation and evaporation are other parts of the water cycle.
Cumulus Clouds
Cumulus clouds are puffy, white clouds and do not mean precipitation is coming soon. Fair weather is more likely.
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds form when there are too many cumulus clouds which combine together to make clouds that are ready to shed precipitation.
Cirrus Clouds
Cirrus clouds are wispy clouds that do not make precipitation, but often if you see them in large quantities, it could mean there will be stormy weather coming within the next 24 hours.
Stratus Clouds
Stratus clouds are the same clouds, which when they come close to the ground make visibility-reducing fog.
Nimbostratus Clouds
Nimbostratus clouds tend to blanket the sky and bring steady precipitation.
Now that you have seen some of the types of clouds, you might be wondering how clouds are made. Well water evaporates from the surface of the Earth where it is warmer. As the warm water vapor rises in the atmosphere it cools and lets go of some of the water molecules. These water molecules get together with bits of dust, ash, and some particles put there by air pollution. These particulates along with the water vapor molecules form into tiny ice crystals or water droplets in the process that is called condensation in order to form clouds.