Cloud Identification and Weather Prediction

By Dr. Ed Brotak
Published on April 10, 2018
1 / 7

Often the clouds you see are hybrids?—?a combination of cloud types?—?which can make identifying them challenging.
Often the clouds you see are hybrids?—?a combination of cloud types?—?which can make identifying them challenging.
2 / 7

A thunderstorm occurs when a cumulus cloud develops into cumulonimbus.
A thunderstorm occurs when a cumulus cloud develops into cumulonimbus.
3 / 7

The formation of these stratocumulus clouds is due to topographic features on Earth’s surface.
The formation of these stratocumulus clouds is due to topographic features on Earth’s surface.
4 / 7

Lenticular clouds are common in mountainous regions.
Lenticular clouds are common in mountainous regions.
5 / 7

A towering cumulus cloud indicates rain on the way.
A towering cumulus cloud indicates rain on the way.
6 / 7

When altocumulus clouds are about, expect good weather.
When altocumulus clouds are about, expect good weather.
7 / 7

Two storm systems collide, resulting in mammatus clouds, signaling rain might be on the way.
Two storm systems collide, resulting in mammatus clouds, signaling rain might be on the way.

Every once in a while, you’ll get a perfectly clear day — “not a cloud in the sky,” as they say. While this makes for an ideal picnic setting, clouds have interesting stories to tell. Clouds are an integral part of the weather on earth. In many ways, they are the weather. Observant cloud watchers can even use them for forecasting.

How it all works

Clouds play a critical role in the Earth’s water budget. Water evaporates primarily from the oceans and becomes water vapor in the atmosphere. To keep the cycle going, we need to get this water back down to Earth’s surface. When air is cooled suf­ficiently, water vapor condenses into water droplets or ice crystals depending on the temperature. This is cloud formation. These droplets and ice crystals are so small that gravity is negligible and air currents keep them floating; therefore clouds don’t fall to the ground. If the droplets or crystals become large enough, they fall in the form of rain, snow, or hail, thereby annoying some people but replenishing the Earth’s water supply.

To produce the condensation that forms clouds, the air must be cooled. As pressure decreases with height, as air is lifted, it expands, and this causes a cooling effect. Cool air holds less water vapor than warm air, so eventually some of the water vapor condenses. Technically, condensation occurs when the air temperature reaches the dew point temperature.

The drop and lift

There are four major causes of “lifting” in the atmosphere and, therefore, four places we find cloud formation. “Orographic” lifting occurs when air is physically forced up over a topographic feature. Clouds are therefore prevalent in mountainous regions. When air heats, it rises. This is called “convection” and is common in many locations in the warm season. “Convergence” means that airflows meet or converge in one spot or along a line. If this happens near the surface, the air is forced to rise. Convergence is associated with low pressure areas, and lows typically have clouds.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-803-7096