Cloud formation is an important phenomenon that is not only an intrinsic part of the Earth’s water cycle but also an important characteristic of the weather too. Clouds are formed by condensation of the water vapour that rises in the atmosphere. Although the water vapour is generated from every object that is wet or saturated with water, but the water vapour that generates from the vast oceans contributes major part of the world’s clouds. Clouds circulate in the atmosphere differently with time and place and fall in different forms of precipitation. The water in the cloud interacts with the gases and particulates/aerosols present in the atmosphere and as a result clouds acquire modified chemical nature accordingly. The modified chemical nature of clouds varies according to the type of gas / particulate they interact with.
Clouds are classified according to their composition and formations as stratus, cumulus, cirrus, alto, nimbus etc. These formations are further classified according to their vertical distribution in the atmosphere from the ground as low level clouds, middle level clouds, high level clouds and clouds with vertical development.
The knowledge about clouds may serve very useful in broadcasting information and alerts to farmers and common masses for possible weather conditions like rain, storm, thunder etc especially during monsoon season. By practicing we can also anticipate weather conditions during different times/seasons according to the cloud formations.
In this activity we are helping learners to know about various types of clouds based on their formations and their atmospheric distribution.
Cloud Card with description
*For reference you may see the cloud card give in the Prakruti Media Shala Website:- https://prakrutishala.org/adminpms/gallery/gallery225610.jpeg
1-. Look up in all direction in the sky through the window of cloud card,
2- See the clouds, their formations, shape, size and approximate height at different times of the day,
3- Identify the types of clouds that you see with the help of cloud card provided.
Note down the information of different types of clouds that are seen during different times of day as well as during different seasons.
A sample data table is given here for help, you may design own data table according to the need.
Present your observations about the clouds in the form of categories, duration, vertical distribution and other interpretations based on quantitative and qualitative analys
● Clouds have different formations and they are distributed in the atmosphere at various heights according to the weight and gravity.
● By keenly watching the clouds and practice we can anticipate weather conditions during different times according to the cloud formations.
● By observation of clouds it is possible to predict the weather conditions and broadcasting the weather alerts to farmers and other masses about rain, storm, thunder etc especially during monsoon season.
● Can you know about cloud cover in the sky above you? Explore How.
●.During the day and night times we see the formation of light and shadow of moonlight and sunlight on landscape, how it happens? Do the shadows differ in density as well?
● During monsoon time when clouds appear to be covering the hills and high buildings, try to visit the cloud laden parts of hills / buildings and check whether you can see or feel the clouds.
● What is the cause of lightening in the sky and where does that ultimately goes?
Acid Rain:
The water vapour that rises in the atmosphere is pure water form but when it moves through the gaseous column of the atmosphere and also interacts with the aerosols and particles in the air (including suspended particulate matter and toxic gases) the pure form water gets changed into having polluting / harmful substances mixed in it. Acid Rain is one such phenomenon in which gaseous compounds of Nitrogen and Sulfur react with the water vapour and make that acidic. When such acidic water vapour condensed in the form of clouds, falls on the Earth in the form of rain, it is called Acid Rain which affects negatively various life forms and other substances on the Earth. Clouds contribute to the Earth’s Greenhouse! : Water vapour in the atmosphere is one of the factors that cause natural greenhouse effect on the Earth. Like other gases, water vapour also traps the heat radiations in the lower atmosphere of the Earth and helps in maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric temperature. But now a day the excessive release of the harmful gases and particulates in the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities is causing excessive trapping of the heat in the lower atmosphere and the resulting anthropogenic greenhouse effect which is associated with the global warming and climate change.
