DOL Describing Clouds 2-13-25

Identify one part of the water cycle that clouds need in order to form.

• Evaporation
• Collection
• Condensation
• Precipitation

Why can clouds be seen?

• They scatter sunlight into the atmosphere.

• They turn white and gray when they are full.

• They are large solid objects floating in the sky.

• None of the above.

• All of the above.

Identify the types of clouds in the image.

a

b

c

Cumulus

Cirrus

Stratus

Match the predicted weather to the type of cloud.

• Cumulus Clouds

• Fair Weather

• Cirrus Clouds

• Light Rain

• Stratus Clouds

• Changing Weather

There are ten basic types of clouds, according to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) International Cloud Atlas. Below is a diagram showing all of the cloud types.

What TWO factors determine how clouds are classified?

• The amount of precipitation they produce.

• Their appearance (shape).

• Their height above the ground.

• The direction they move in the sky.

Ms. Sanchez says living things like plants don’t need clouds to survive. Is she correct or incorrect? Explain why or why not in complete sentences. 

Answer explanation

Ms. Sanchez is incorrect. Living things like plants do need clouds to survive because clouds are part of the water cycle. Clouds bring rain, which helps plants grow by giving them the water they need. Without clouds, there wouldn’t be enough rain, and plants could dry out and die. Also, clouds help keep the Earth cool by blocking some sunlight, which helps plants stay at the right temperature.