Clouds

Clouds are the cottonlike formations that you see in the sky. You see them more clearly during daytime and less distinctly during nighttime.

Clouds are made up of small drops of water. They carry the water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation. They also reflect sunlight back into space, thus affecting the amount of heat energy that reaches Earth’s surface.

There are four main types of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and nimbus.

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus clouds are white high clouds with a featherlike appearance. They are composed of ice crystals and super-cool water. They indicate fair weather.

Cumulus Clouds

Cumulus clouds are thick, puffy, and remind you of cauliflowers. They may appear as isolated or tightly packed masses of clouds. They also indicate fair weather.