A
Web Quest for Introducing Clouds and How They Relate to Weather
Systems
As we begin our journey to learn more
about clouds, we must first discover just exactly what is a cloud.
Go to http://www.weather.com/learn/dave/cloud.html
with your internet browser.
Did you find the weather related
definition of a cloud?
____
No __X_ Yes
Did you find out what the first English
meaning for cloud was?
____ No __X_
Yes
In
order to discover a more clearly defined idea about clouds, click
on the word “cloud” where it says, “check
our Weather Glossary for cloud.
Write the complete definition for a cloud as defined in the
Weather Glossary.
Cloud:
a visible collection of minute particle matter, such as water
droplets, and/or ice crystals, in the free air. A cloud forms in
the atmosphere as a result of condensation of water vapor.
Condensation nuclei, such as in smoke or dust particles,
form a surface upon which water vapor can condense.
Now
turn your browser toward the Cloudman’s Atlas and look at a
variety of different kinds of clouds.
Go to http://www.cloudman.com/gallery1/gallery1_1.html
After scrolling through the different pictures of clouds,
look closely at the two basic kinds of clouds as the Cloudman has
grouped them. The two
basic formations (families) are ____heap___
and ___layer____.
(For more photos, see http://www.cloudman.com/gallery1/gallery1_1.html
) Using the
boxes below, sketch the two basic formations.
(Do your best! Your
grade will not be based on your drawing ability!)
After completing your sketches,
study the table at http://www.cloudman.com/chart/chart.html
What are the names of the ten different
kinds of clouds?
| Cumulus | Stratus |
| Cirrostratus |
Cirrus |
| Altostratus | Nimbostratus |
| Cirrocumulus | Cumulonimbus |
| Altocumulus |
Stratocumulus |
Let’s begin to look at how clouds
relate to weather systems in our world.
Go to http://www.cloudman.com/look/look_up.htm
In your own words, tell why the Cloudman
says we should consider clouds as a “Billboard of Coming
Attractions”.
Weather affects human activity. Some clouds are formed from particular factors and when observed can predict coming weather.
The last web site will tell
us about four important roles that clouds play.
Read the information at web site http://www-airs.jpl.nasa.gov/html/edu/clouds/Cloud_introduction.html
List the important jobs that clouds do.
1. helps balance Earth’s
energy
2. Clouds cool the Earth
3. Help with Earth’s water
transport
4.
Clouds influence weather