Science Unit 2 Clouds and Atmo Vocab

Alto

prefix meaning middle altitude in cloud classification

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surrounds the earth, held in place by earth’s gravity

Billow Cloud

type of mountain wave cloud; when cool and slow air in under, and hotter fast air is over creating wave-clouds

Cap Cloud

type of mountain wave cloud; the cloud has mass, so it droops creating a “cap” over a mountain peak

Cirrus

high-altitude clouds that are thin, feathery tufts of ice crystals

Climate

the weather conditions in a specific area over a long period of time (general weather)

Cloud

a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air

Contrail

a cloud forms off of the exhaust from an airplane (condensation nuclei)- creates a cloud trail

Crepuscular Ray

when sunlight shines through gaps in cumulus clouds, resulting in beams of light

Cumulonimbus

a type of cumulus cloud that has vertical development, gray color, and associated with downpours, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail and cold fronts

Cumulus

low altitude thick, puffy, white clouds with flat bases, formed by vertically rising air currents often localized convective lifting or convergence

Fall Streak

a bank of clouds with cooler air falling through; makes cirrus clouds (ice) lower than they should be

Hail

formed inside of cumulonimbus clouds from accreating as it bounces up and down inside the cloud

Hole Punch

rising warm air going through one part of a cloud, the air makes that part of cloud evaporate

Lenticular Cloud

type of mountain wave cloud; diff layers of air move at diff speeds and have diff temps, resulting in many stacked layers

Mackerel Sky

Often precede a change in weather, sometimes bad weather

Mammatus Cloud

associated with cumulonimbus; unstable air pushes parts of cloud downward creating little bubbles in the sky

Mare’s Tail

type of cirrus cloud with a hook shape that can indicate rain within 24 hours if caused by a warm front

Mesosphere

middle atmosphere, goes from stratopause to 85 km up

Mountain Wave Cloud

stationary lenticular clouds situated over and downwind of a prominent mountain range

Nimbo

prefix-suffix to indicate that a cloud is rain-bearing

Rain Shaft

a visible column of rain or hail falling from the base of the cloud

Roll Cloud

A low, horizontal tube-shaped cloud associated with a thunderstorm gust front (or sometimes with a cold front)

Stratosphere

middle atmosphere, goes from tropopause to 50-53 km up (depending on location)

Stratus

clouds that form in low, horizontal layers, covering all or most of sky

Sun Dog

bright spots as part of halo on either side of the sun (from cirrus cloud)

The Glory

prismatic halo around a shadow of an object, associated with cirrus clouds

The Green Flash

happens at sunrise or sunset as sun is passing horizon. red sets first, then orange, then yellow, then a flash of green

Thermosphere

the upper atmosphere from 85-600 km up

Troposphere

lowest and densest layer of atmosphere. goes from earths surface to roughly 18 km up (6-20 km depending on location)

Virga

Precipitation coming from the cloud that evaporates before it can reach the ground

Weather

outdoor conditions at a given place and time

Sun/Moon Halo

the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals of cirrus clouds