2006-07-26 06:38:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
On Earth, the condensing substance is water vapor, which forms small droplets of water (typically 0.01 mm of ice crystals) that, when surrounded with billions of other droplets or crystals, are visible as clouds
Clouds form when the invisible water vapor in the air condenses into visible water droplets or ice crystals. This can happen in three ways:
1. The air is cooled below its saturation point. This happens when the air comes in contact with a cold surface or a surface that is cooling by radiation, or the air is cooled by adiabatic expansion (rising). This can happen:
* along warm and cold fronts (frontal lift)
* where air flows up the side of a mountain and cools as it rises higher into the atmosphere (orographic lift)
* by the convection caused by the warming of a surface by insolation (diurnal heating)
* when warm air blows over a colder surface such as a cool body of water.
2. Clouds can be formed when two air masses below saturation point mix. Examples are breath on a cold day, aircraft contrails and Arctic sea smoke.
3. The air stays the same temperature but absorbs more water vapor into it until it reaches saturation.
2006-07-26 06:44:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
All clouds are is condensed water vapor that has gathered together.The water vapor comes from heated water like lakes and oceans rises up through the air is cooled and forms tiny water drops making the clouds.
2006-07-26 13:44:52 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First you need water vapour and CCNs (cloud condensation nuclei). CCNs can be made up of ice crystals, more often dust, and anthropogenic sulphate aerosols. The CCN's allow water vapour to condense out onto the surface giving rise to a cloud, Oh, we also have to hit dewpoint.
2006-07-26 13:43:41 · answer #3 · answered by Auggie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is evaporated by the sun's heat or wind and enters the atmosphere as vapour. When enough vapour accumulates, clouds are formed.
2006-07-26 13:49:00 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Condensation turns moisture into clouds :)
2006-07-26 17:39:24 · answer #5 · answered by Ammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard that clouds are made from gases
2006-07-26 13:44:55 · answer #6 · answered by Thandie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water particals that evaporate catch on to dust particals and make the cloud. its like fog.
2006-07-26 13:42:41 · answer #7 · answered by Drew H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋