Learning About the Atmosphere A meteorologist is a scientist who studies the atmosphere The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds a planet There are actually several layers to the Earth’s atmosphere but the lowest layer the one that contains all the gases we depend on to live is called the troposphere Like everything to do with weather the height of the troposphere is always changing What meteorologists refer to as weather including the temperature rainfall and storms is all a thanks to the atmosphere But the troposphere is where all weather takes place STEM in Action Generally speaking the average height of the troposphere around the world is 6 miles Do you know how many feet that is There are 5,280 feet in one mile To find out how many feet there are in 6 miles you need to multiply 5,280 x 6 31,680 So you can also say that the troposphere reaches 31,680 feet into the air That’s pretty high The highest mountain in the world Mount Everest reaches up 29,028 feet 8 85 meters 6
Cirrus clouds Cumulus clouds Stratus clouds It is also within the troposphere that you can find clouds Clouds are actually made of millions of little drops of water Most of the time the water in the air is in a vapor or gas state Clouds form when there is so much water in the atmosphere that it condenses or changes from vapor to liquid There are three basic types of clouds cirrus cumulus and stratus The cloud type you are probably most familiar with are cumulus clouds Cumulus clouds are big puffy clouds Stratus clouds are layered and flat and cirrus clouds are thin and wispy 7
Along with the three basic types of clouds there are also clouds that are combinations of different types of clouds Cirrostratus clouds are a combination of cirrus and stratus clouds You already know that clouds can be found in the air but each type of cloud exists at a different altitude Type of Cloud Cirrus Cirrostratus Cirrocumulus Altostratus Altocumulus Stratocumulus Stratus Cumulus Cumulonimbus Altitude 20,000 to 40,000 feet 20,000 to 40,000 feet 20,000 to 40,000 feet 6,000 to 20,000 feet below 6,000 feet below 6,000 feet below 6,000 feet below 6,000 feet cloud mass from below 6,000 feet to over 50,000 feet 8
STEM in Action Using this data can you calculate how much higher up a cirrus cloud is compared with a stratus cloud A cirrus cloud can be anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 feet Just to keep things simple use the lower number 20,000 Meanwhile a stratus cloud is typically below 6,000 feet All you have to do to compare these numbers is to subtract the smaller number from the larger one 20,000 6,000 14,000 So a cirrus cloud is at least 14,000 feet higher up than a stratus cloud Because they are big and puffy the clouds pictured here are most likely cumulus clouds Knowing that how high up would you say these clouds are located 9
