clouds

Kate and Rebecca discover how clouds have been classified over the last two hundred years and hear from the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society.

This week's question:

Not all clouds are a sign of rain. In fact, som e mean that good weather is about to arrive. Which type of cloud is a sign of sun rather than rain?

a) a wispy and thin cloud

b) a tall and fluffy cloud

c) a gray flat cloud

classified

divided in to groups according to height and appearence

species

normally refers to a set of anim als or plants in which the m embers have

similar charactristics to each other

form ation

shape or way som ething is m ade

am ateur meteorologist

som eone who studies the weather as a hobby, not as a job

fluffy

light and full of air

to be under a cloud

an expression to describe som eone who is sad or depressed

to have a cloud hanging over him

when som eone is feeling depressed or unhappy

a cloud on the horizon

when there is trouble or bad things ahead

Types of clouds

cumulous clouds

fluffy, white clouds which look a bit like ice cream cirrus clouds

thin, wispy clouds which tend to be high up

stratus clouds

low, gray clouds which usually cover m ost of the sky