Clouds
8 questions tagged Clouds — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Why do clouds sometimes stay flat and layered instead of puffy and tall?
Clouds stay layered when the atmosphere is stable and air rises slowly, so moisture spreads out over a broad area instead of building towering convection. This is common in stratus and altostratus clouds.
Which cloud type is most directly associated with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes?
Cumulonimbus clouds are the towering thunderstorm clouds most associated with lightning, hail, violent winds, and tornadoes. Their deep vertical growth makes them the classic severe-weather cloud.
Why do some clouds stay low and flat while others tower high into the sky?
Low flat clouds form when air rises only a little and cools just enough to condense. Tall clouds need strong instability and powerful updrafts that lift air through much deeper layers of the atmosphere.
Why do some clouds look silver or dark instead of bright white?
Cloud color depends on how much sunlight gets through and how thick the cloud is. Thick clouds block more light, so their undersides often look gray or dark.
What is virga?
Virga is precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. It often appears as streaks hanging beneath clouds.
What is a lenticular cloud?
A lenticular cloud is a smooth, lens-shaped cloud that forms over mountains. It appears when air flows in waves over terrain.
Whose research first showed that clouds can cool Earth by reflecting sunlight?
John Leslie and later scientists helped explain cloud reflectivity, but modern cloud-radiation studies are especially associated with scientists like Verner Suomi and others. The key idea is that clouds both trap heat and reflect sunlight, affecting climate.
How do clouds form in the atmosphere?
Clouds form when moist air cools enough for water vapour to condense onto tiny particles called cloud condensation nuclei.