Why do clouds have different shapes? Detailed answer

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Why do clouds have different shapes? Detailed answer

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Why do clouds have different shapes?

This is how clouds form: warm air with water vapor rises into the sky. At a certain height, warm air cools. At low temperatures, moisture can no longer be in the form of water vapor. Excess moisture turns into water droplets, ice particles - this is how a cloud forms.

No two clouds are alike, they are constantly changing their shape. The difference in the shape of clouds is explained by the fact that they form at different heights and at different temperatures. In addition, clouds can be composed of different particles, depending on altitude and temperature.

The highest clouds are called "glowing". They are at an altitude of 50-100 km! Then come "pearl". They are located at altitudes from 22 to 33 km. These are very thin, beautifully colored clouds, consisting of dust or raindrops. They can only be observed after sunset or before sunrise.

At an altitude of 10 km and above, there are "cirrus", "cirrostratus" and "cirrocumulus" clouds. Cirrus clouds look like feathers and filaments, cirrostratus clouds look like thin whitish stripes, cirrocumulus clouds are small rounded clouds, we say about them "the sky in whites". All these clouds are made up of thin pieces of ice.

Low clouds are made up of small water droplets. Altocumulus clouds are located at an altitude of 3-5 km from the Earth's surface, consisting of larger masses of vapors and particles than cirrocumulus clouds. Altostratus clouds form at the same height, often covering the entire sky with a gray veil, through which the Sun and Moon shine through with pale spots.

Below, at an altitude of two kilometers, stratocumulus clouds form - large and lumpy. At the same height, rain clouds are located - dense, dark, shapeless. At an altitude of less than 610 meters there are stratus clouds - fog rising up. Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dense, cauliflower-like clouds that bring thunderstorms and strong winds.

Author: Likum A.

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