Clouds
how a thermometer works;
that water occurs in three states;
what are the states of matter and how do they change.
discuss the water cycle in nature;
explain how clouds are formed and what they are built from;
recognize the basic types of clouds.
The Water Cycle
Water on Earth is constantly moving. From the entire surface of our planet water vapor rises and escapes into the atmosphere. Water evaporates primarily from the surface of rivers, lakes, seas and the oceans. Water vapor also comes from areas covered with snow and ice, as well as from the ground. Plants and, to a lesser extent, other organisms, are also of great importance for evaporation.
When the air cools at higher altitudes, the water vapor condenses. At very low temperatures it often turns directly into ice. The water vapour forms clouds, from which water falls to the surface of the Earth in the form of rain, snow or hail. This water is then collected in lakes, rivers and oceans, absorbed into the ground and is collected by living organisms. Thus the cycle repeats itself. The whole process is called the water cycle.
Cloud formation
One stage of the water cycle is the formation of cloudsclouds. A cloud is a collection of microscopic droplets of water or ice crystals which are carried by air currents.
As we already know, the faster the surface or water temperature increases, the faster the air heats up. We also know that there is water vapor in the atmosphere. The higher up, the lower the temperature. The air is cooler and the water vapour begins to condense. During this process, the water molecules gather on fine dust in the air, this is condensationcondensation of water vapor. In this way, the condensed water forms a cloud. If the air temperature at the higher altitude is above zero, the cloud will consist of water droplets. If the air temperature is below zero, the cloud will be made of ice crystals.
See how clouds are formed.
plastic bottle with a cap,
water,
matches.
Put enough water in the bottle to cover the bottom.
Put the cap on the bottle and shake it well.
Ask an adult to light a match.
When the match is burned halfway, the adult should blow out the flame and throw it into the bottle. Close the bottle immediately.
Squeeze the bottle several times. What do you see?
The bottle has water vapor. Its particles gather on particles of dust (smoke) from the smoldering match. When squeezing the bottle, you increase the pressure inside it and condensation occurs forming of cloud.
Before you do the experiment „How clouds are made?”, write down the research question and the hypothesis. Then follow the attached instruction. Make observations during the task, and finally - conclusions.
Types of clouds
In the sky you can see clouds which look very different. The construction, the shape of the clouds and the way they cover the sky depend on the temperature and humidity of the air, the height to which they arise, as well as on air currents. The variety of cloud shapes is large, but several types can be distinguished.
Examining the appearance of clouds.
sheet of paper,
pencil.
Observations must be made on a clear day, when the sky is not overcast.
Go outside and look at the clouds.
Try to describe their appearance. If you see clouds of different shapes, describe which ones are higher and which ones are lower.
Choose one cloud and try to draw it. Is it easy or difficult? Why?
There are different types of clouds in the sky. No two of them are the same, but some are similar.
Name of the cloud | Altitude formed | How they look | What they are made of | Rainfall |
Cirrus | 5 – 13 km | delicate, often in the form of silky strands or wrinkles | ice crystals | they do not give rain |
Cumulus | 1 – 4 km | single, dense clouds in the shape of hills or domes, the base is flat; when the sun illuminates them from the side – they are shiny white because they reflect light, their bases are dark gray | water droplets or ice crystals (in the case of storm clouds) | generally no precipitation; cumulus clouds bring short‑lived, heavy rainfall and storms |
Stratus | 100 m – 2 km | a low, gray layer of clouds, usually uniformly covering the sky | water droplets or ice crystals | prolonged rainfall |
Clouds and weather events
Cloud observations help in determining weatherweather forecasts. They allow you to determine if you can expect precipitationprecipitation in the near future.For example, low, wide, gray clouds signal a long‑lasting drizzle. Cumulus clouds generally do not mean rain and usually mean good weather. On the other hand, dark, dense clouds, measuring up to several kilometers from the base to the summit, are a sign of short but heavy rainfall and maybe even a storm. The storm usually lasts for a short time, but it is a very intense event. It consists of strong wind and heavy rain (sometimes hail), as well as electrical discharges – lightning.
Match the pairs: English words with Polish definition.
ciekłe i stałe produkty kondensacji pary wodnej opadające na powierzchnię ziemi, widoczny i unoszący się w atmosferze zbiór kropelek wody lub kryształków lodu, skraplanie się pary wodnej w atmosferze i jej osadzanie na drobnych unoszących się zanieczyszczeniach i pyłach, stan atmosfery w danym czasie na danym obszarze; wpływają na nią procesy zachodzące w warstwie atmosfery najbliższej powierzchni ziemi
| cloud | |
| condensation | |
| weather | |
| precipitation |
Summary
The cloud is a cluster of drops of water or ice crystals or a mixture of both floating in the atmosphere.
Clouds arise when the warm, humid air rises and cools, resulting in the water vapor condensing.
Keywords
cloud, weather, precipitation
Glossary
chmury – widoczny i unoszący się w atmosferze zbiór kropelek wody lub kryształków lodu
kondensacja – skraplanie się pary wodnej w atmosferze i jej osadzanie na drobnych unoszących się zanieczyszczeniach i pyłach
pogoda – stan atmosfery w danym czasie na danym obszarze; wpływają na nią procesy zachodzące w warstwie atmosfery najbliższej powierzchni ziemi
opady atmosferyczne – ciekłe i stałe produkty kondensacji pary wodnej opadające na powierzchnię ziemi