What Causes Cloud Formation?

Everyday our atmosphere changes. It happens so often that beautiful cloud formations are often missed. What causes these clouds we see above us? The water cycle and Cloud formations and types depend on each other for survival. Without clouds in our atmosphere, life as we know it on Earth would not be the same.

                                                             clouds in our atmosphere                   

Many people wonder what causes these beautiful clouds in the sky to form. Condensation plays a significant role in the formation of clouds. Clouds are formed when air containing water vapor is cooled below a critical temperature called the dew point. The resulting moisture condenses into droplets on microscopic dust particles (condensation nuclei) in the atmosphere. The air is normally cooled by expansion during its upward movement. Upward flow of air in the atmosphere may be caused by convection resulting from intense solar heating of the ground. A cold wedge of air (cold front) near the ground causing a mass of warm air to be forced aloft; or over a mountain range at an angle to the wind. Clouds are occasionally produced by a reduction of pressure aloft or by the mixing of warmer and cooler air currents. (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). Clouds are formed by rising air. Many factors affect the formation of clouds and all clouds go through the same process of creation regardless of type or size.

                              The water cycle, clouds clearly playing an important role in the process

There are many different kinds of cloud formations. The difference between them are often easily identified by just looking at their physical characteristics such as color, shape and size. Out of all the cloud formations possible, there are two types in particular that are seemingly identifiable among common knowledge; stratus and cirrus. Stratus clouds are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that does not reach the ground. Usually no precipitation falls from stratus clouds, but sometimes they may drizzle. When a thick fog "lifts," the resulting clouds are low stratus (Cloud Types!). Stratus clouds are often times viewed as bad weather ahead. Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds blown by high winds into long streamers. They are considered "high clouds" forming above 6000 m (20,000 ft). Cirrus clouds usually move across the sky from west to east. They generally mean fair to pleasant weather (Cloud Types!). On a nice day one would be pleased to see cirrus clouds reassuring them that the weather will remain wonderful.

                    
                          The different types of clouds ranging at different altitudes

Cloud formations play a crucial role in weather. Clouds can give one an idea whether or not it is going to rain depending on the color and how many there are in the sky. Scattered white cumulus clusters sailing across a field of blue promise a dry summer afternoon. Massive dark thunderheads portend crop-damaging wind and rain. A blanket of light gray signals a temperate winter's night. (Climatology) Clouds are what Meteorologists use to predict the weather on the daily to come up with forecasts with a greater accuracy than ever before. On a sunny day it takes much longer for water to evaporate because there are fewer clouds in the sky for the water to evaporate into. 

Storm clouds ahead!

Without cloud formations not only would predicting the weather be a hassle, it would be impossible. Clouds are vital to the water cycle process, equivalent to being part of a team. They need each other to work properly. The different types of clouds affect the weather differently and without the constant change our seasons would be at a standstill. Clouds are an important part of our atmosphere and without them fueling the water cycle life as we know it would not be able to exist. Clouds affect temperature range and reflect light.

Works Cited

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Samantha. "Water Cycle and Cloud Formation by Samantha." Blog Spot. Web.