Do clouds move or is it the Earths rotation that makes them look like they are moving?

Question

My 7th grade daughter came home and announced that they do not move..Now I am fairly knowledgeable in astronomy so I know all about the earths rotation when viewing night sky objects but I never thought about the clouds being still..What do you all think is she right or wrong?

Answer 1

No, clouds move themselves due to wind/air pressure... ever notice they move it different speeds according to the weather that day? If whoever told her that was right, they'd appear to move at the same speed all the time. Also, they are part of our Earth's atmosphere, anyway, not external in Space, so they move with the Earth just as we do!

Answer 2

The answer is not simple because there are many influences on the formation and movement of clouds. The earth's rotation influences the formation and movement of clouds in a way. When you see clouds moving in a particular direction, it could be due to the wind moving the clouds, or there may be some cloud movement due to the rotation of the earth. It would take precise scientific measurement to establish the influence that was causing the observed cloud movement. I suggest that your daughter read the article at the website under Source(s) below to understand the basic structure of the convection cycle and how it serves to build and move clouds. Clouds are built by a process that requires moving air, which shows up as moving clouds.

In my view, whether you look at clouds from a "whole earth" perspective (as astronauts) or from laying on your back in a field, even a scientific observer would say that clouds move and it's not "just" the earth's rotation that make clouds look like they are moving.

I would answer your daughter this way: "The earth's rotation is PART of what make the clouds look like they are moving. There are also other reasons that clouds appear to be moving. The article on the website tells us about things that make clouds appear to be moving."

Answer 3

Clouds do move. I was in a high altitude town. The mist used to move around in the wind at the ground level. The same thing happens with clouds. It moves due to the wind and is fairly higher in altitude.

Your daughter will need proof. She can check to see if thecloud apparently move in line with the direction of rotation of earth. This direction should change with the direction of the wind. On different days and seasons she should find it moving in different directions.

Answer 4

How do clouds move?

Clouds move with the wind. High cirrus clouds are pushed along by the jet stream, sometimes traveling at more than 100 miles-per-hour. When clouds are part of a thunderstorm they usually travel at 30 to 40 mph.

Answer 5

Clouds move with the wind. If it were the earth's rotation they would always appear to move at the same speed which would be too slow to be noticable.

Answer 6

climate is the long term situations of a place with the aid of the years. climate is the fast term situations over the days. climate relies upon on the way a close by responds to the blend of selection, altitude, and geography. climate relies upon on the present climate structures worldwide that are the effect of sea water temperature and jet streams. The formula is rather complicated and incorporates an 11 3 hundred and sixty 5 days image voltaic cycle, and a 20 3 hundred and sixty 5 days ocean temperature cycle. different cycles including El Niño are actually not as regular. The jet flow is almost unpredictable. Over an prolonged time those established out to what we call climate, yet on account that we don't understand precisely what's going to take place 10 days later, we call it climate. carry an umbrella to examine your climate and you would be good an excellent style of the time. whether it particularly is considerable day, pay attention to the climate record.

Answer 7

Perhaps she is referring to the objects (meteors etc.) found around almost all the planets and stars in space, also referred to as cloud. Otherwise clouds we know about do move by the wind.

Answer 8

It all depends on your viewpoint. Check the theory of relativity. It can be said that the earth stands still and the universe moves around it. All movement is relative to the observer.

Answer 9

She is wrong of course! Just think of a windy day with rushing clouds...does the Earth also rush then?

Answer 10

it is both the wind blows the clouds but at the same time the earth spins so it is the wind because you cannot see or feel the earth spin.