Question 2 of 21

Part of the classification for clouds depends upon their appearance __________.

... Latin words are used to describe how clouds appear to someone on the ground looking up at them. For example, long, thin sheets of clouds are called "stratus," meaning "layer."

Question 3 of 21

When clouds are labeled with the prefix "alto," they are _______.

... Clouds are also classified by location. "Alto" indicates mid-range clouds between 6,500 and 20,000 feet (1,981 meters to 6,096 meters). For instance, altostratus clouds are medium-high, flat layers of clouds.

Question 4 of 21

When categorizing clouds, the root word "nimbo" means _________.

... The root words "nimbo" and "nimbus" indicate rain or other precipitation. For instance, nimbostratus clouds are layers of heavy clouds that bring steady rain or snow.

Question 5 of 21

The root word "cumulo" indicates clouds that are _________.

... Clouds that are labeled "cumulo" form vertical heaps. For example, cumulonimbus clouds are tall piles of clouds that accompany thunderstorms.

Question 6 of 21

The clouds highest in the sky are labeled with the root word "_________."

... Clouds located above 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) are called "cirro," such as cirrostratus (high, thin layers) and cirrocumulus (high puffs).

Question 7 of 21

Clouds that are irregularly shaped and extend below thunderstorm clouds (cumulonimbus) are called _______ clouds.

... Scud clouds jut out in a ragged manner under cumulonimbus. Because of their appearance, they are sometimes mistaken for tornadoes, but they are not accompanied by swirling winds.

Question 8 of 21

Contrails form behind jet airliners; they are a combination of jet exhaust and air mixed by _______.

... The turbulence of the jet's engine causes a mix of the hot, humid exhaust and cooler, lower-pressure air in the surrounding skies.

Question 9 of 21

Scientists are interested in contrails because they are __________.

... Although all clouds can impact climate, contrails are unusual because they have a human source. They form at very high altitudes, can last for days and can cover thousands of square kilometers.

Question 10 of 21

Fog is present when low clouds cause visibility to be less than __________.

... The international definition for fog is that it reduces visibility to less than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles). This distinguishes it from drizzle and mist.

Question 11 of 21

Clouds are mostly composed of ice crystals and __________.

... Very high clouds are usually ice crystals. Mid-level and low clouds are primarily water droplets; if the temperature is cold enough, there may be ice crystals.

Question 12 of 21

As warm air gets pushed up and begins to cool, water vapor condenses around _________.

... Water cools and condenses around dust particles. Billions of them together form a cloud.

Question 13 of 21

Orographic clouds often develop around _________.

... Orographic clouds form when air is forced up by the Earth's geography, such as mountain ranges. The air cools as it is forced to rise over the high point.

Question 14 of 21

"Cirrus" clouds indicate _________ weather.

... Wispy, curly cirrus clouds are high in the sky and indicate fair weather.

Question 15 of 21

Depending upon the season and location, cumulonimbus clouds can indicate clear and cold weather or ______.

... In the tropics, cumulonimbus clouds may appear as a hurricane approaches.

Question 16 of 21

The shape of a cumulonimbus cloud is often compared to _________.

... Cumulonimbus clouds have an anvil shape: wide on the top, then angling to a narrower base. They form at high altitudes; the strong winds there are responsible for the unusual shape.

Question 17 of 21

Green clouds are associated with ________.

... Especially in the U.S. Midwest, green clouds often signal hail or tornadoes. The exact cause of the odd color is unknown, but it may be related to the high levels of water and hail inside the cloud.

Question 18 of 21

Clouds float because __________.

... Warm air is pushed up by colder air. If the air in the cloud is warmer than the adjacent air, the cloud floats.

Question 19 of 21

Lenticular clouds are a special type that resemble _________.

... Lenticular clouds, which form near mountains, combine flat and rounded shapes similar to flying saucers.

Question 20 of 21

Clouds are white because _________.

... Clouds reflect all colors equally, and the effect is white. As they become thicker, the light doesn't go all the way through, and they appear gray.

Question 21 of 21

In the song "Both Sides Now," Joni Mitchell does NOT compare clouds to _________.

... Mitchell reminisces about using feathers, angel hair and ice cream as metaphors for clouds. She also complains about how they "block the sun" and "rain and snow on everyone." Clearly she had some cloud issues.

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