A Whale and An Alligator
By Julia A. Keirns
Have you ever seen a whale in the sky?
How about an alligator?
What would you say if I told you I saw a whale eating an alligator in the sky one day?
Would you believe me?
You would if you had a vivid imagination.
A good imagination is definitely needed to see a whale, or an alligator, in the sky.
What else do you suppose is needed?
Did you guess clouds?
If you did, you are only partly right.
You do need clouds, but what kind of clouds?
Did you know there are more than 100 different kinds of clouds?
Clouds are divided into four main groups, or families, based on their height above the ground.
There are high clouds, middle clouds, low clouds, and vertical clouds.
Vertical clouds can rise high like a mountain through all three levels.
Within these four groups are many species and sub-species, just like animals.
Although there are many different kinds of clouds, there are only two main types.
Stratiform and Cumuliform.
Almost all clouds will fall under one of these two types.
Stratiform clouds resemble long white blankets and are sometimes see-through.
Cumuliform clouds resemble puffy white cotton balls.
Fair-weather cumulus clouds are the best kind of puffy white clouds to have if your imagination wants to play.
Most of the other cumulus clouds are gray and sometimes produce rain or snow.
If you would like to learn more about clouds, you might want to become a meteorologist.
A meteorologist is a person who studies clouds and the weather.
Now that you know a little bit more about clouds, go look at the sky.
What do you see?
If you see puffy white cumulus clouds, then look really hard.
Use your imagination and maybe you will see a whale eating an alligator too.
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Storybird review – “What a fun and informational story! I learned a lot about different cloud formations. Keep it up!” Reviewed by kimberlythesecond