The Water Cycle

Water on earth moves in a continuous cycle

VOCABULARY

• Evaporation– Water vapor rising in the atmosphere

• Condensation– The changing of water from a vapor to a

liquid

• Precipitation– Any form of water falling from the sky such

as rain, sleet, snow, and hail

The Water Cycle

Clouds

• Clouds are masses of small water droplets or tiny ice crystals that float in the air

• The three main types are– Cirrus– Cumulus– Stratus

CIRRUS CLOUDS

• Cirro--– Curled or wispy

• Form highest in the sky (above 6000m)– Made up of ice

crystals

• Usually signal the end of clear weather

CUMULUS CLOUDS• Cumulo—

– Puffy clouds with flat bases

• Usually signal good weather, but can produce showers and thunderstorms

• Can have a low base, but a top above 6000m, so can’t be named according to altitude

STRATUS CLOUDS

• Strato—– Means layerlike

• Low-lying, dull colored clouds (below 2000m)– Form in layers

• Usually bring drizzling rain or light-falling snow

• Fog is a stratus cloud on the ground

CLOUD FORMATIONSCloud type Level Description View

Cirrus High Wispy, ice crystals,Signals weather change

Cumulus Middle Puffy, white, good weather

Stratus Low Low layer of gray, brings precipitation

Severe Weather

• Hurricane– A low-pressure tropical storm that develops

in the North Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific

• Tornado– One of the smallest, yet most violent, storm

types

• Thunderstorm– Disturbance caused by cold front, thunder

and lightning occur

HURRICANE

• Form over ocean near the equator

• Winds spin counter- clockwise

• Winds must be over 75 mph

• The strongest storms on earth

TORNADO• Spiraling funnel cloud• Form along cold fronts• Very unpredictable• Winds can exceed 500 mph inside tornado• Mostly occur in spring

THUNDERSTORM

• Caused by a cold front

• Strong winds and heavy rain

• Usually bring thunder and lightning

• Are usually over quickly