From what clouds are formed and on what types are divided

Everyone has seen clouds. They are large and small, almost transparent and very dense, white or dark, pre-threatened. Taking a different shape, they resemble animals and objects. But what are the clouds formed from and why do they look like that? We will describe this below.

What is a cloud

The one who flew on the plane, probably "passed" through the cloud and noticed that it looks like a fog, only it is not directly above the earth, but high in the sky. The comparison is quite logical, because both are ordinary steam. And it, in turn, consists of microscopic droplets of water. Where do they come from?

This water rises into the air as a result of evaporation from the surface of the earth and water bodies. Therefore, the greatest accumulation of clouds is observed over the seas. For a year from their surface about 400 thousand cubic kilometers evaporate, which is 4 times higher than that of land.

What kinds of clouds are there? Everything depends on the state of the water that forms them. It can be gaseous, liquid or solid. It may seem surprising, but some clouds really consist of ice blocks.

We have already found out that the clouds are formed as a result of the accumulation of a large number of particles of water. But to complete the process, you need a link to which the drops will "stick" and come together. Often this role is performed by dust, smoke or salt.

Classification

The height of the location largely depends on what clouds are formed from and how they will look. As a rule, white masses, which we are accustomed to see in the sky, appear in the troposphere. Its upper limit varies according to geographical location. The closer the area to the equator, the higher the standard clouds can form. For example, over a terrain with a tropical climate, the troposphere boundary is located at an altitude of about 18 km, and beyond the Arctic Circle - 10 km.

The formation of clouds is also possible at high altitudes, but they are currently poorly understood. For example, mother-of-pearl appears in the stratosphere, and silvery ones appear in the mesosphere.

The clouds of the troposphere are conventionally divided into types depending on the height at which they are located - in the upper, middle or lower tier of the troposphere. The movement of air also has a great influence on the formation of the cloud. In a calm environment, pinnate and layered clouds are formed, but if the air masses of the troposphere move unevenly, the probability of the appearance of a cumulus increases.

Upper level

This interval covers a section of the sky at an altitude of more than 6 km and to the edge of the troposphere. Given that the air temperature here does not rise above 0 degrees, it's easy to guess what clouds are formed in the upper tier. It can only be ice.

In appearance, the clouds located here are divided into 3 genera:

1. Cirrhous . They have a wavy structure and can look like separate strands, strips or whole ridges.
2. Pericocumulus cumulus consists of small balls, curls or flakes.
3. Peristo-layered represent a translucent similarity of tissue, "covering" the sky. Clouds of this type can stretch to the whole sky or occupy only a small area.

The height of the cloud in the upper tier can vary greatly depending on various factors. It can be several hundred meters, and tens of kilometers.

The middle and lower tier

The middle tier is part of the troposphere, usually located between 2 and 6 km. There are altocumulus clouds, which are bulk gray or white masses. They consist of water in the warm season and, accordingly, from the ice to the cold. The second type of cloud is high-layered. They have a milky-gray color and often completely cover the sky. Such clouds carry precipitation in the form of drizzling rain or small snow, but they rarely reach the surface of the earth.

The lower tier is the sky directly above us. The clouds here can be of 4 types:

1. Stratocumulus cumulus in the form of lumps or shafts of gray color. Can carry sediments, except when the temperature is too low.
2. Layered . Are located below all others, have a gray color.
3. Layered rain. As one can understand by name, they carry sediments, and, as rules, they have a complex nature. These are gray clouds that do not have a definite shape.
4. Cumulus . One of the most recognizable clouds. They look like powerful heaps and clubs with a practically flat base. Precipitation such clouds do not bring.

There is another kind, not included in the general list. This is a cumulonimbus cloud. They develop vertically and are present in each of the three tiers. Such clouds bring showers, thunderstorms and hail, so often they are called thunderstorms, or storm showers.

Lifetime of the cloud

For those who know what clouds are formed from, the question of the time of their life can be interesting. The humidity level plays a big role here. It is a kind of source of vitality for the clouds. If the air in the troposphere is dry enough, then the cloud will not last long. If the humidity is high, it can float longer in the sky until it becomes more powerful to produce precipitation.

As for the shape of the cloud, its life is very short. Particles of water have the property of constantly moving, evaporating and reappearing. Therefore, one and the same shape of the cloud can not survive even for 5 minutes.