Lucy's report for ENW306 Report It

 

Cloud Formation 

 Why are the clouds different shapes and sizes? Well my friends why there are so many clouds, is because they can help to tell the weather.

 

There are 10 different types of clouds all meaning something different. Frist is cirrostratus which looks like small heat waves. This cloud is one of the 4 clouds that are in the high level. The high level means the cloud is really high in the sky. Second is cirrocumulus which looks like heaps of little cookie crumbs, this is also in the high level. Third is cirrus this cloud can show you that warm weather is on its way. It looks like a j tipped on its back, yes, you guessed it this one is in the high level too. Fourth is cumulonimbus. Which is a rain making cloud, it starts in the high level and goes through all of the levels. It looks like a big tornado.

 

Next are all of the ones in the middle level. First is Altostratus which looks like lots of worms and means warm weather is coming.  Altocumulus cloud look like cauliflower heads. Cumulonimbus is so big it goes through the middle level.

 

The last level is the low level of the cloud formations. To start off is Stratus which is the shape of a straight line with a dip in it near the end of the cloud. This cloud can produce rain or drizzle. Stratocumulus looks like heaps of circles connected and layered in rows. These are usually ahead or behind bad weather.  Cumulus clouds have flat bottoms and puffy tops. These can mean thunderstorms are coming. Nimbostratus is really thick which is a rain making cloud and it can also mean snow.  Cumulonimbus goes through the lower level of clouds.

 

The different cloud formations are a good way to help tell the weather for people that don’t have internet. People like weather readers, pilots, hunters, fishermen all use the clouds to help tell the weather.

 

Don’t stress about not remembering the cloud names and what they look like. Even I can’t remember them! Good luck using the clouds to help to tell the weather.