A myriad of water droplets raised up by heated air, clouds are, roughly speaking, condensed vapor. Everything happens because the atmosphere below is warmer than above. Because of this, the steam cools and condenses. But this process requires the presence of the smallest particles of dust, to which water molecules adhere. Therefore, clouds are also some dust called condensation grains.
Interestingly, that:
- the air may contain quite a lot of water vapor, as they say, be oversaturated, but due to the lack of dust, condensation in the drops does not occur, and clouds do not form;
- the clouds illuminated by the rays of the sun only appear white, in fact they come in a wide variety of colors and shades;
- the cloud may appear dark gray, almost black, due to soot particles (most often this happens in industrial areas).
Atmospheric fronts
Often clouds form intensively in areas where cold and warm air collide. These bands are commonly called atmospheric fronts. A cold front occurs when warm air is rapidly pushed up. As a rule, cold weather follows. If warm air glides smoothly over cold masses, a warm front forms, and - as a result - warm weather. In both fronts, clouds are generated (this is caused by cooling air). Any of the atmospheric fronts can bring a change in weather.
The water cycle
In nature, there is an endless cycle of water masses. The sun heats the surface of the earth or water, the liquid goes into a gaseous state (evaporates), rising up. The air saturated with moisture at the top cools down, because there the temperature is lower, it cools, the steam condenses, forming clouds. Water from the clouds falls to the earth in the form of precipitation. To the question: "Are clouds animate or inanimate nature?" - you can answer: "Inanimate." Since they consist of dust and water, not related to living organisms.
What kind of clouds are there?
According to their classification, clouds are divided into several varieties that differ from each other in morphology and appearance.
Cirrus
They consist of elements in the form of thin white feathers, elongated ridges, shreds. They have a silky sheen and fibrous structure. Formed in the upper troposphere, at an altitude of, as a rule, 6-8 kilometers, sometimes higher. The length is up to several kilometers. Cirrus clouds are ice crystals (in structure) with a low rate of fall. Characteristic of the front edge of a warm front. Sometimes they are cirrostratus and cirrocumulus.
Cirrocumulus
Everyone knows the "lamb". They, as a rule, have a spherical shape, elongated in a line. Height - 6-8 kilometers. The length is 1 kilometer. They are harbingers of fever. At sea - the harbingers of the storm. No precipitation falls out of them.
Cirrostratus
They are in the form of a veil, homogeneous and whitish. They are relatively transparent (the sun or moon can be seen through them). These are the clouds of the upper tier.
Layered
Form a homogeneous, similar to fog, layer. As a rule, they are located at an altitude of one hundred meters, sometimes lower. Usually cover the whole sky. The lower edge may fall low, merging with the aboveground fog. Precipitation in the form of drizzles falls from these clouds.
Cumulus
Dense, white, with a vertical arrangement. The height along the lower border is up to a kilometer or more. Thickness is one to two kilometers. The upper part is designed in the form of towers or domes. As a rule, they form in neutral and cold air masses.
Cumulonimbus
Powerful and dense, upright. Cumulonimbus clouds are the next stage of cumulus evolution. Of these, showers are usually born with powerful thunderstorms, sometimes hail. Often form a line called the squall line. Their structure is mixed. Below - water droplets, above, where the temperature is below zero, ice crystals form. The lower boundary is up to two kilometers (the lower tier of the troposphere).
Intermediate stages
There are transitional options described by the science of clouds: high cumulus, highly layered, layered rain, layered cumulus. They carry signs of different types of clouds.
Silvery
Of those discovered relatively recently - silver (discovered only in the 19th century). They are formed at high altitude: up to 80 kilometers. Well observed after sunset and before sunrise.
Mother of Pearl
Clouds of a characteristic color, forming at high (20-30 kilometers) heights. Consist of small crystals of ice.
Tubular
Their structure resembles a cellular, tubular shape. They are found exclusively in tropical latitudes, quite rarely, and are associated with the formation of tropical cyclones.
Lenticular
Clouds in the shape of lenses. Formed on ridges, between layers of cold and warm air. They hardly move, even in strong winds. Usually they can be seen near the mountain ranges on the leeward side (altitude from 2 to 15 kilometers).
Pyrocumulative
Cumulus or cumulonimbus associated with the occurrence of volcanic activity or fire. The fire here creates an upward flow of air, which leads to condensation in the clouds. Lightning strikes and thunder are also possible. And then, new clouds of ignition arise under the clouds.