Types of Clouds Game Quiz Online

Check out this clouds game quiz online. It is an interactive multiple choice questions quiz with 15 questions. In it students will learn and review the names of the different types of clouds and how they are formed. Clouds are water droplets in suspension and depending on their density, they tend to display different colors and appearances. Some clouds are prone to creating bad weather like rains and storms, while others are not so humid to cause that. This game can be played in classrooms or at home and is suitable for students in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades.

 

Types of Clouds and How to Recognize Them

A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets, frozen crystals, and other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planet or similar space. The droplets may be water or another liquid, and the crystals may contain a variety of chemicals. These particles are called aerosols. They may also have other properties. This article is about several common types of clouds and how you can recognize them.

 

Stratus clouds

Stratus clouds are thin, whitish or gray cloud structures in the atmosphere. They are often found over hilly regions and the sea. The formation of these clouds is an example of adiabatic cooling. Stratus clouds are distinguished from fog clouds by their opacity, or ability to absorb light. Because stratus clouds tend to block sunlight, they are extremely white in close proximity to the solar disk.

Although stratus clouds create interesting lighting conditions, their continuous appearance often makes them boring to look at. Filmmakers use these low-lying clouds to create atmospheric backdrops. However, many people find them uninteresting. Fortunately, stratus clouds can be interesting when they are fragmented among other clouds. They can also be a warning sign of impending bad weather. So if you are looking for a fun way to spend your evenings, check out stratus clouds.

Also, stratus clouds form in calm conditions when moist air rises above cold surfaces. The rising air has low pressure and increases humidity, which becomes visible as fog or haze. In addition, stratus clouds may be accompanied by light drizzle or snow if they are thick enough. 

Although stratus clouds are shallow and do not develop vertically, they are very susceptible to dynamic lifting. The region in which stratus clouds develop is influenced by relative humidity and uplift zones. Ideally, these two elements correlate with optimal values for both conditions. The result is a beautiful skyline full of layered, stacked stratus clouds. 

As for height, stratus clouds form between the surface and 2,000 feet of cloudy air. Their bases can be as high as 4,000 feet. When thick stratus clouds form, they can produce significant precipitation, especially in coastal and mountainous regions. 

In terms of classification, stratus clouds can be divided into two distinct types. The first type is stratus nebulous, a featureless layer that produces a light drizzle. The second type, stratus fractus, is a straight cloud layer that breaks apart. Stratus fractus clouds, on the other hand, can produce light snow or rain. 

Finally, stratus clouds are also called cumulus clouds. They are similar to nimbostratus clouds, but have a different appearance. Cumulus clouds are usually located near the ground and do not get very high. Stratus clouds tend to stay in one place for days, while cirrus clouds are high-flying, feathery-looking clouds.

 

Nimbostratus clouds

These dark gray clouds are characterized by their irregularly shaped bases. They sit low in the sky and are associated with periods of heavy rain or snow. Nimbostratus clouds are typically found ahead of low-pressure systems that travel over the earth. Their rainy appearance is related to their association with virga, a feature of certain kinds of clouds that can bring snow showers.

The nimbostratus cloud is composed of water droplets and can form at low altitudes, usually between two and four kilometers. These clouds can also contain snow and ice particles. They are most common in the middle latitudes. They are coded CM2 on SYNOP reports. Their presence is an indication of approaching or occluded fronts. Nimbostratus clouds also cause a steady moderate amount of precipitation, although they are less common than other types of clouds.

Nimbostratus clouds are not commonly associated with thunderstorms. However, they may be embedded within cumulonimbus clouds and interact with them. This means that lightning can form in these clouds, producing more intense downpours and larger droplets. It is unusual for the two types of clouds to appear together, however. Most often, they are found near warm fronts. These clouds are not associated with thunderstorms. Nimbostratus clouds are typically non-stratiform and are formed by cumulonimbus clouds.

In terms of formation, nimbostratus clouds form when warm, moist air is gradually lifted over a large area. In warm-fronted areas, this air is gently lifted over a longer time. This slow motion of the warm front causes a thick layer of clouds to form. This stable cloud layer is conducive to the formation of nimbostratus clouds. It can also produce snow and precipitation. In winter, this type of weather can be hazardous.

In terms of classification, the two types of nimbostratus clouds are not always of the same type. Rather, they're similar in appearance. The difference is in the visual appearance. Moreover, one type has precipitation almost every time they appear in the sky, while the other type rarely brings any rain. Therefore, when reading about nimbostratus clouds and cumulonimbus clouds, you must know that they're related.

 

Another cloud type, called altostratus, has a low concentration of large particles. This makes them look like ground glass. They cover a large portion of the sky. They can look like fish scales. While cirrocumulus clouds are often small, nimbostratus clouds can be large and resemble a fish's scales.

In addition to the lenticular wave-clouds, the cyclogenesis of nimbostratus clouds depends on atmospheric conditions. In general, they occur when there's a change in temperature and relative humidity. This type of cloud is the precursor to severe weather conditions. However, the name Nimbostratus clouds can also be given to the cyclone-like particles that form over the mountains.

Lenticular clouds

Lenticular clouds are formed mostly in the troposphere, which is at the lowest part of the atmosphere. They have a symmetrical shape resembling a lens or a saucer and align parallel to the direction of the wind. Lenticular clouds may also be formed in the lower stratosphere, where they take the shape of nacreous clouds. In order to understand this nacreous cloud formation, we'll first look at its origin.

Lenticular clouds are named for their lens-shaped appearance and are typically formed in areas of strong winds aloft. They are also thought to bring a significant boost to temperature, as they typically carry strong winds. They also form where mountain waves exist. Because of their unstable nature, lenticular clouds tend to form over mountainous terrain. 

Lenticular clouds are usually associated with mountains or hills, and they can look like giant flying saucers or lopsided pancake stacks. Many popular mountain ranges have them in their skies. Lenticular clouds have a special way of forming, which is why they are often misinterpreted as UFOs. They are actually formed when fast-moving air aloft encounters a physical obstacle, such as a volcano or mountain range. Their deflection creates a wave in the atmosphere downwind of the obstacle, and clouds develop within its crest.

Lenticular clouds can be breathtaking, and if you're lucky enough to live near a lenticular cloud formation, you may enjoy photographing them daily. In fact, some people can even predict the weather based on the shape of lenticular clouds. 

Because they don't move with the wind, they stay in the same location for several hours. When they are formed, they reshape and reform as they travel upwards along the mountain wave. If a lenticular cloud is forming, it could be a sign of impending precipitation.

Because they produce strong gusts in one location, they signal high wind flow in that layer of the atmosphere. Lenticular clouds usually form in mountain wave zones and are often associated with high instability. You may see them in your area.