Why do some clouds keep a sharply defined profile?

Question

Grey skies I can understand, but why do some clouds have a clearly defined edge. On an aeroplane, when you go through certain clouds it is unnerving to find yourself swamped by cloud one second, and bathe in direct sunlight the next, and back again as you fly through bunches of clouds.

Why do some clouds not appear to dissipate? After all, when your kettle boils you do not see mini clouds keeping their shape, floating around your kitchen as the steam comes out.

Yet some clouds all blurr and merge together to form a generally grey sky - that's what I would expect.

Yes, we're all agreed that clouds are made from water droplets, reading the answer so far, nobody is given any reason why the cloud should keep it's defined outline for a long period of time.
Are we all saying that they do not keep their defined outline, they are all dissipating, some more quickly than others, and that it is an illusion that they are retaining a defined outline?

Answer 1

Check out cloudgazing.com/clouds.htm. They also have lots of links to more info.
A very broad answer to your question is that the clouds are formed by moisture in the atmosphere. The shapes are determined by how much moisture, the temperature of the air, and how high in the atmosphere the clouds are. I took a great class you might enjoy that was for earth and weather science. It was called physical geography. Make sure the class teaches something similar in your area, because class titles change.

Answer 2

Clouds that are newly forming are exhibiting condensation of water vapor. The faster this occurs, the sharper the edges you will see. The best example is the updraft portion of the classic supercell thunderstorm. As moist air rapidly rises in the updraft, condensation gives that part of the storm a "cauliflower" look. The edges are very sharply defined. You would usually look for the updraft to be on the southwestern or western side of the storm (in N hemisphere). That's because the ambient mid and upper-level winds will (usually) blow the "debris" of the updraft downstream to the northeast or east.

Everyday cumulus clouds can also have pretty sharp edges as condensation occurs within them.

Once the condensation ceases, the clouds start getting soft and wispy as the ice/water particles drift apart.

There can also be some sharp edges to clouds where two air masses collide.

Answer 3

Water droplets form clouds with sharp edges. Ice crystals form clouds with wispy edges.

Cumuli form (cauliflower) clouds at least start with water droplets, so have sharp edges, while they are building.

Answer 4

The tradewinds here keep the bottom of the clouds flat, some of them still look like chickens.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

They are far away.