How do clouds form

The clouds They can not only serve as a source of inspiration to write, why not ?, a poetry or a story. Although they are not usually very well seen, especially during the summer when what you want is to enjoy the sun, the reality is that without them life on our planet would most likely not have appeared, because in order to live, as we know , water is essential.

But Have you ever wondered how clouds form? If so, keep reading and we will explain it to you.

Cloud formation

Clouds form when the air rises warmed by the terrestrial irradiation. As it warms up, the air rises and rises until it reaches its dew point, which will be when the water vapor condenses into very small drops of water or ice crystals. These droplets, which are spherical in shape and measure between 0,004 and 0,1mm, are in continuous movement as they are suspended in the air and are subjected to upward currents, so they collide with each other and group together. Depending on the atmospheric conditions, an increase in their thickness can occur in a way that causes them to precipitate.

Cloud types

Air movement plays a very important role in the formation of clouds, since, for example, if they are created between winds or air with intense updrafts they will have a vertical development, while if they are created in air at rest, they will appear layers or strata. Thus, three types of clouds are distinguished: high, medium and low:

• High: they often have a feather-like appearance. They form at a height between 7 and 13 km, and do not precipitate, but they can be an indicator of change in time. The genera that we find here are the Cirrus, Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus.
• Medias: are those that totally or partially cover the sky, with a fibrous or uniform appearance. They form at a height between 3 and 6 km, and do not precipitate. The genera that we find here are the Altocumulus and Alstrostratus.
• Low: they have a cottony appearance, and can precipitate if they are low and have a great vertical development. They are formed at an altitude below 3km. The genera that we find here are the Stratus, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus.

Clouds are very interesting, don't you think? 