Cloud Formation: How Do Clouds Form?

Clouds are an interesting natural phenomena. Here are some quick facts about clouds and how are they formed.
Weather can be predicted to a certain level with the help of studying cloud formations. Any planet having an atmosphere in the solar system will have clouds. Clouds exist on the other planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Clouds are condensed droplets suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Planet.

Clouds are formed when air comes in contact with either air a surface that is cooling by radiation or a cold surface. The air then is cooled below its saturation point. Therefore clouds can be formed along cold and warm fronts. Clouds can also be formed at the side of a mountain.

The air will then cool as it rises higher into the atmosphere.Clouds can also be formed by the convection caused due to the warming of a surface by insolation.Clouds are therefore formed due to the cooling of water vapor in the air, and its condensing as part of the water cycle. Clouds consist of millions of water droplets as well as ice crystals.

These water droplets assume various shapes and sizes and float around. Cloud formation also take place when warm air blows over a cool surface or body, cold water is a perfect example for such types of cloud formations. Cloud also form when two air bodies which are below the saturation point mix. One more factor is the absorption of more water vapor by air while remaining at the same temperature

Clouds are the subject of many a folklore and are used by all and sundry to predict the weather. This kind of prediction of weather is known as 'weatherlore'. 'Weatherlore' cannot be exactly termed as unscientific, because any lengthy observation supported by testing and constant up gradation of explanations will procure some proved results.

There is another theory which explains how clouds are formed. This theory is highly debatable and is not widely accepted. This theory, known as the 'hot ice' theory, says that water can be turned into ice by supplying an electric field, as high as one million volts per meter.

Another concept in the formation of clouds is the 'ice memory'. It has been found that for clouds to form on clay for the first time, the required temperature is a minus ten degrees Celsius. However, later, the clouds will form around the same clay at just -5 degree Celsius.

Formation of clouds can sometimes cause a cloud field. Cloud fields are simply a group of clouds, however, they sometimes take on a strategic shape which has its own characteristics. The Open Cell is a type of cloud field which resembles the honey comb. It has denser clouds in the middle and clearer clouds at the end. Another cloud field is the actinoform, which is very similar to a leaf.

The colors of clouds also vary from cloud to cloud and impart important information. The characteristic white color of clouds means that they were formed with warm air which contained water vapor. The gray or black clouds are formed when the droplets in the cloud combine to make bigger drops. This is done as the cloud matures. Other colors, such as blue, green and yellow are naturally created in the clouds.
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