PRACTICAL 1 – CLOUDS AND WEATHER

Aim:

To explain the atmospheric conditions based on different types of clouds

which are formed.

To observe the shapes of various types of clouds.

To observe the clouds and the pattern of weather in two weeks (14 days).

Introduction:

In this first practical, I will observe three types of clouds based on their

altitudes. The first types are high cloud which is from 5 to 13 kilometers in the

sky. Examples of this cloud are cirrus, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus. Second

types of clouds are middle cloud which is from 2 to 7 kilometers in the sky.

Examples of these types of clouds are altocumulus, altostratus and nimbostratus.

The last types of clouds are low clouds which are from 0 to 2 kilometers in the

sky. Examples of these clouds are stratocumulus, stratus, cumulus and

cumulonimbus.

In this practical, I choose to observe the clouds from the hostel. I started my

observation on 6th February 2009 until 19th February 2009 which is within 2

weeks. The time that I choose to observe the sky is fixed everyday which is at

4.00 p.m in the evening. I will make an observation based on the picture that

taken by the camera and recorded the data in the data sheet.

Instruments/Materials:

Camera, thermometer, data sheet

Procedures:

1. A suitable location to observe the clouds was chosen.

2. A time to observe the clouds are fixed.

3. A camera was used to take the picture of the clouds in the observation.

4. A thermometer was used to measure the temperature.

5. The observation was recorded in the data sheet.

6. A prediction was made based on the observation that get.

7. Procedures 3 to 5 were repeated in two weeks (14 days).

Results/Analysis

Date PhotoName of Clouds/

Characteristics/HeightTemperature

(ºC)Prediction/Weather

1st Day

6th February 2009

(Friday)

Altocumulus

Composed of

globular

masses(have high

density and larger)

2000 to 6000 meters

in the sky (Middle

clouds)

29 ºC

This cloud gives rain

at the evening

because they had

high density. So the

probability to have

rain is higher.

2nd Day

7th February 2009

(Saturday)

Cirrocumulus

Consists of fluffy

masses

Thin and white in

colour

Made up of ice crystal

Above 6000 meters in

the sky (High clouds)

32 ºC

This cloud is not

considered to give

rain. It is because of

the low temperatures

and small quantities

of water vapour

present in it which is

in high attitude. So

the weather is good

and no rain.

3rd Day

8th February 2009

(Sunday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

Below 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

28 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. So it

gives rain at the

evening.

4th Day

9th February 2009

(Monday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

0 to 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

30 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. In this

day, it gives rain at

night.

5th Day

10th February 2009

(Tuesday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

0 to 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

28 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. Lots of

cloud was occurring.

This makes high

intensity to rain at

evening.

6th Day

11th February 2009

(Wednesday)

No picture taken / 27 ºC Raining.

7th Day

12th February 2009

(Thursday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

0 to 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

29 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. Lots of

cloud was occurring

makes it a cloudy

day. This makes high

intensity to rain at

evening.

8th Day

13th February 2009

(Friday)

Altostratus

Create a uniform

white to grayish

sheet covering the

sky with the sun

visible as a bright

spot

Drizzle may

accompany these

clouds

2000 to 6000 meters

in the sky (Middle

clouds)

32 ºC

On this day, no rain

produces but the sky

is a bit cloudy.

9th Day

14th February 2009

(Saturday)

No picture taken / 27 ºC Raining.

10th Day

15th February 2009

(Sunday)

Cirrus

Thin and delicate

Sometimes appear as

hooked filaments

called “mares tails”

Above 6000 meters in

the sky (High clouds)

32 ºC

These clouds are not

considered to give a

precipitation because

it has small

quantities of water

vapour. So today is a

sunny day.

11th Day

16th February 2009

(Monday)

No picture taken / 28 ºC Raining.

12th Day

17th February 2009

(Tuesday)

Cumulonimbus

Associated with

unstable air

Shape like

tower(towering

clouds)

May produce rain

showers or a

thunderstorm

Clouds of vertical

development (do not

fit into any one of the

three height clouds)

29 ºC

This cloud is

associated with

unstable air so it can

form heavy rains and

also a thunderstorm.

13th Day

18th February 2009

(Wednesday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

0 to 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

29 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. This

makes high intensity

to rain at evening. At

this time, the sky is

cloudy because of

lots of clouds.

14th Day

19th February 2009

(Thursday)

Nimbostratus

Chief precipitation

producers(gives rain)

Form in association

with stable

conditions

0 to 2000 meters in

the sky (Low clouds)

29 ºC

This cloud is known

as the chief

precipitation

producers. Lots of

cloud was occurring

makes it a cloudy

day. This makes high

intensity to rain at

night.

Discussion

When you look above, up in the sky what actually you see? All of us will say

that we can see clouds. And we also can see the clouds in various type of shape.

What is cloud?

Actually cloud is formed from the condensation. Condensation described as

a water vapour in air which becomes saturated due to the adiabatic cooling.

Condensation also occurs when water vapour in the air changes to a liquid.

These will resulted the clouds that we seen in the sky. Clouds can be classified

on the basis of their shape (form) and height. There are three basic forms of

cloud that we can recognize which are cirrus, cumulus and stratus. Cirrus clouds

are high and have the thin shape. It also has white in colour. They can occur as

patches composed of small cells. They also can occur as delicate veil-like sheets

or extended wispy fibers that often have feathery appearance.

While cumulus clouds consist of globular individual cloud masses. Normally

they exhibit a flat base and have the appearance of rising domes or towers.

These clouds are frequently described as having a cauliflower structure. For the

status clouds, they are best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all

of the sky. While there may be minor breaks, there are no distinct individual cloud

units.

Clouds also can be differentiating based on their high from the ground. There

are three types of clouds based on their high. First are high-level clouds which is

form above 6,000 meters and since the temperatures are so cold at such high

elevations, these clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals. High-level clouds

are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array

of colors when the sun is low on the horizon. An example of these clouds is cirrus

cloud.

The second types are the middle clouds which are bases of mid-level clouds

and typically appear between 2,000 to 6,000 meters. Because of their lower

altitudes, they are composed primarily of water droplets. However, they can also

be composed of ice crystals when temperatures are cold enough. And lastly, low

clouds are of mostly composed of water droplets since their bases generally lie

below 2,000 meters. However, when temperatures are cold enough, these clouds

may also contain ice particles and snow. Examples of these clouds are

nimbostratus clouds.

In this practical, I had observed these three different types of clouds based

on their height. On the first day, the altocumulus clouds are occurring. So the

intensity to give rain is a bit higher. When it move to the second day, the weather

is fine as we can see the cirrocumulus cloud. But as we started to move to the

next day until the seventh day, as we can see in the results, there are more

Middle Clouds which is nimbostratus cloud occurs in the sky and the whole of

five days are raining.

Then on the next day, altostratus cloud is form and there are no rain

produced but it little bit cloudy on that day. But rain is produced on the next day

and no picture can be taken. Then tomorrow, a sunny day was occurring and

only cirrus cloud on the sky. On the next day, it is started to rain again until the

last day of my observation. The nimbostratus clouds are on the sky over the

whole four days. So more of the observation, we can see nimbostratus clouds

which are the one of cloud that can give a rain or precipitation. And it is related to

the nowadays weather which are always raining.

The implication of this finding to daily life is now when I see the clouds, I can

predict the weather on that day based on my observation that I had do in this

practical.

Conclusion

Many shape of clouds was observed and the weather can be predicted based on

the cloud occur.