The weather is composed of sun, fog, frost or rain.

 

Cumulus clouds are big and fluffy.

When you look up into the sky on most days you may see clouds. When air is cooled to a temperature where water in the air becomes visible clouds form. This temperature is called the dewpoint.   Dust is also needed to form clouds.   When the clouds form the water condenses on the tiny specs; just like the mist in your bathroom condenses on the bath walls.    As you know in higher atmosphere, the temperature gets cooler.   Sometimes clouds are formed because moist air is forced upward over mountains.

Scientists who study weather are called meteorologists. They survey the temperature, air pressure, winds and clouds and tell us whether to expect rain or cold air. The clouds are named by meteorologist describing what the cloud looks like and how far above the ground the cloud is.

 

Big fluffy clouds are called cumulus and they can be in any part of the atmosphere.   Special cumulus clouds which bring thunderstorms are called cumulonimbus.

Cumulonimbus clouds are dark because their bases are low, but their tops can reach high up into the atmosphere.     Rain can form in any part of a cumulonimbus cloud. Rain which does not reach the ground is called virga.  .

 

Clouds that are flat and look like blankets in the sky are called stratus. Rain can also fall from stratus clouds.  If rain is a steady drizzle which lasts for a while, it most likely comes from stratus clouds.

Stratus Clouds look like a blanket

 

Cirrus clouds are high up in the atmosphere.

Thin, wispy clouds are called cirrus and are usually high up in the atmosphere.  They are made of ice crystals since the higher air is colder. There is not enough moisture in cirrus clouds to cause rain.   You cannot have rain and rainbows without clouds.

 

Rainbows are caused by sunlight passing through very small water drops.   This is why you can make your own mini-rainbow with a garden hose if it has a fine spray.

rainbow: light passing through water drops