Have you ever looked up at the sky and watched the clouds? Clouds are like a big show happening above us every day! They come in many shapes and sizes, and they keep changing as the wind blows them.
What are Clouds?
Clouds are made of tiny drops of water or ice that float high up in the sky. When water from rivers, lakes, and oceans heats up, it rises into the sky as water vapour. High up in the sky, this vapour cools and turns into tiny drops of water. Millions of these drops together form a cloud.
Shapes of Clouds
Clouds do not stay in one shape. The wind pushes them and changes their shape. Sometimes a cloud looks like a rabbit. Sometimes it looks like a ship or a mountain. Using your imagination, you can see many wonderful things in the clouds!
What Do Clouds Tell Us?
- White and fluffy clouds usually mean the weather is nice and sunny.
- Dark and heavy clouds often mean rain is coming.
- Farmers, sailors, and pilots watch clouds to understand the weather.
Look at a white, fluffy cloud. It looks soft like cotton wool. This kind of cloud usually appears on a pleasant day.
You see big, dark grey clouds covering the sky. Soon you hear thunder. These are rain clouds and a storm may be coming.
Thin, wispy clouds high in the sky look like feathers or hair. These are called cirrus clouds and they appear on clear days.
When many clouds pile up tall and dark, they are called storm clouds. They can bring heavy rain and lightning.
Sometimes clouds sit very low, close to the ground — we call this fog or mist. On a foggy morning, you can barely see far ahead.
Common mistakes
Do not think clouds are made of smoke or cotton. Clouds are made of tiny water droplets floating in the air.
Summary
Clouds are water droplets floating in the sky. They come in many shapes and change with the wind. The colour and shape of clouds can tell us about the weather. Watching clouds is a fun way to learn about nature!