Clouds can serve as a source of inspiration for writing—why not?—a poem or a short story. While they aren't usually very popular, especially during the summer when we want to enjoy the sun, the reality is that without them , life on our planet most likely wouldn't have appeared, since, as we know, water is essential for life.
But have you ever wondered how clouds form? If so, keep reading and we'll explain it to you.
Cloud formation
Clouds form when air rises, heated by the Earth's radiation. As it warms, the air rises until it reaches its dew point, at which point the water vapor condenses into tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. These droplets, which are spherical and measure between 0,004 and 0,1 mm, are in constant motion as they are suspended in the air and subjected to updrafts, causing them to collide and clump together. Depending on atmospheric conditions, their thickness can increase, eventually leading to precipitation.
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?