3.1.6.2 Ice Clouds Ice clouds, also called cirrus clouds, are made up of ice crystals and start to form at altitudes of 5.5 km in temperate regions and of 6.5 km in tropical regions, making them the highest clouds in the troposphere. A small seed particle, or INP, is needed for heterogeneous ice nucleation.
Cirrus are the highest level clouds, made entirely of ice, this are wispy looking clouds which look like horses tails. These are cumulus clouds at cirrus height. Cirrocumulus is composed entirely of ice and look like little fish scales in the sky.
Yet another inquiry we ran across in our research was “How are clouds formed from ice crystals?”.
The Latin word ‘cirro’ means curl of hair. Generally detached clouds, they look like white fluffy cotton balls. From the Latin word for ‘layer’ these clouds are usually broad and fairly wide spread appearing like a blanket.
Well, Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands. Weather prediction: A change is on its way! Cirrostratus clouds are thin, white clouds that cover the whole sky like a veil.
Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals. They often are the first sign of an approaching warm front or upper-level jet streak. Unlike cirrus, cirrostratus clouds form more of a widespread, veil-like layer (similar to what stratus clouds do in low levels).
Interesting Facts about CloudsA cloud that forms on the ground is called fog. Some clouds you see in the sky might be from airplanes. High level cirrus clouds may travel at speeds up to 100 mph. Even though clouds float in the air, a single cumulus cloud can weigh hundreds of tons. Other planets with atmospheres have clouds including Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.
How do ice crystals and water droplets co-exist in clouds?
Therefore, there are areas within a cloud were ice crystals and water droplets co-exist. When ice crystals and supercooled droplets are near each other, there is a movement of water molecules from the droplet to the crystal. This increases the size of the ice crystal at the expense of the droplet.
What type of clouds are made of ice crystals?
Ice clouds, also called cirrus clouds, are made up of ice crystals and start to form at altitudes of 5.5 km in temperate regions and of 6.5 Volume 1. A few more things to investigate are: mesosphere | metal layers, storm and cloud dynamics, cloud dynamics, the h2o molecule in water vapour and ice, clouds and fog | cloud modeling, and cloud dynamics.
How do clouds form?
The water or ice that make up clouds travels into the sky within air as water vapor, the gas form of water.
While we were writing we ran into the question “How are clouds arranged in the sky?”.
One way is by where they are found in the sky. Some clouds are high up in the sky. Low clouds form closer to Earth’s surface. In fact, low clouds can even touch the ground. These clouds are called fog. Middle clouds are found between low and high clouds.
What causes condensation to occur in clouds?
Condensation happens with the help of tiny particles floating around in the air, such as dust, salt crystals from sea spray, bacteria or even ash from volcanoes. Those particles provide surfaces on which water vapor can change into liquid droplets or ice crystals. A large accumulation of such droplets or ice crystals is a cloud.
What are the particles that make up clouds?
These particles, such as dust and pollen, are called condensation nuclei. Eventually, enough water vapor condenses upon pieces of dust, pollen or other condensation nuclei to form a cloud. Some clouds form as air warms up near the Earth’s surface and rises. Heated by sunshine, the ground heats the air just above it.
This article is part of the NASA Knows! (Grades K-4) series. A cloud is made of water drops or ice crystals floating in the sky. There are many kinds of clouds. Clouds are an important part of Earth’s weather.
What are clouds on other planets?
NASA also studies clouds on other planets. Mars has clouds that are like the clouds on Earth. But other planets have clouds that aren’t made of water. For example, Jupiter has clouds made of a gas called ammonia.
What is another name for the middle clouds?
These clouds are called fog. Middle clouds are found between low and high clouds. Another way clouds are named is by their shape. Cirrus clouds are high clouds.