| A | B |
|---|
| stratus | looks like a blanket spread across the sky, flat layers, usually no precipitation thick & low to ground |
| nimbostratus | looks like stratus clouds, but has rain or snow falling from them |
| cirrostratus | looks like a thin sheet across the sky, often allows light to enter |
| cumulus | heap or mass. fair weather clouds, flat base and puffy tops.white on top sometimes gray at base |
| cirrocumulus | white clouds that look like small pillows or scales on a fish |
| stratocumulus | form lower in the sky and appear flat and lumpy |
| altocumulus | form in white or gray patches, likes sheets or layers |
| cirrus | thin white wispy clouds, like feathers. ice crystals. called mare's tail. warn of approaching warm front (storm) |
| cumulonimbus | clouds that building up to thunderstorm. very tall stack of clouds |
| 51% | how much of Earth's energy is absorbed by Earth's surface |
| 70% | how much of the energy is radiated back into space |
| 19% | how much energy is absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere |
| wind is caused by | the uneven heating of the Earth's surface |
| particles of dust, salt or smoke | water vapor plus these ingredients are necessary for a cloud to form |
| evaporation of water on Earth | first step in cloud formation |
| convection current | when warm air or water coupled with cool air or water sinking creates this |
| rises | warm air generally |
| infrared energy | heat energy absorbed by Earth's surface is reflected back into atmosphere as this |
| fog | clouds that form at or near the ground |
| dropplets of liquid water | as air cools, some of the water vapor condenses to form this |
