A myriad of water droplets raised up by means of heated air, the clouds - is, roughly speaking, the condensed steam.Everything happens because warmer atmosphere bottom than at the top.Because of this vapor cools and condenses.However, this process requires a tiny dust particles, which adhere to the water molecule.Therefore, the cloud - it's also a bit of dust, called condensation seeds.
interesting that:
- air can hold a lot of water vapor, as they say, to be oversaturated, but because of the lack of dust condense into droplets occurs, and the clouds are formed;
- clouds, illuminated by the sun, but appear white, in fact, they come in different colors and shades;
- cloud may appear dark gray, almost black, because of soot particles (most often it happens in industrial areas).
atmospheric fronts
often clouds rapidly formed in areas where cold and warm air collide.These bands are called atmospheric fronts.A cold front occurs when rapidly pushed up the warm air.As a rule, after the cold weather comes.If the warm air as it glides through the cold masses formed warm front, and - as a consequence - the warm weather.And in fact, in another front generated clouds (this results in the cooling air).Any of the atmospheric fronts can bring a change in the weather.
water cycle in nature, there are endless cycle of water masses.The sun heats the surface of the ground or water, the fluid passes to the gaseous state (evaporates), climbing up.Saturated air cools the top, as a lower temperature there is cooled, the vapor condenses to form a cloud.Water falls from the clouds to the ground as precipitation.The question: "Clouds - a living or inanimate nature?" - Can be answered: "lifeless".Since they consist of dust and water, non-living organisms.
What are clouds?
In its classification of clouds is divided into several varieties, differing from each other and on the morphology and appearance.
Cirrus
They consist of elements in the form of thin white feathers elongated ridges shreds.They have a silky luster and fibrous structure.Formed in the upper troposphere, at a height of typically 6-8 km, sometimes - above.Length - up to several kilometers.Cirrus clouds - it is ice crystals (in structure) having a low speed fall.Characteristic of the front edge of the warm front.Sometimes there Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus.
Cirrocumulus
well-known "sheep."They usually have a spherical shape, an elongated line.Height - 6-8 kilometers.Length - 1 kilometer.Is a precursor to raise the temperature.On the sea - the harbingers of the storm.Of these, not precipitation.
Cirrostratus
Have shroud shape, smooth and whitish.They are relatively transparent (through them can be seen the sun or the moon).It clouds the upper tier.
Layered
forms a uniform similar to the fog layer.As a rule, at a height of one hundred meters, sometimes - below.Usually covers the whole sky.The bottom edge can be lowered low, merging with overhead mist.Because these clouds precipitation falls as drizzle.
Cumulus
Dense, white, with a vertical arrangement.The height of the lower limit - up to a kilometer or more.Thickness - one or two kilometers.The upper part is made in the form of towers or domes.As a rule, formed in neutral and cold air masses.
Cumulonimbus
Powerful and compact, vertical form.Cumulonimbus clouds - is the next stage in the development of cumulus.Because they usually are born with powerful showers and thunderstorms, sometimes - hail.Often they form a line called a squall line.Their structure is mixed.Below - water droplets at the top, where the temperature is below freezing, the ice crystals are formed.The lower limit - up to two kilometers (the lower tier of the troposphere).
intermediate stage
There transitional options described by science about the Clouds: Altocumulus, Altostratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus.They carry signs of different types of clouds.
Silver
of the discovered relatively recently - silver (open only in the 19th century).They are formed at high altitude: up to 80 kilometers.Well observed after sunset and before sunrise.
Pearl
Clouds characteristic color produced at high (20-30 kilometers) altitude.They consist of small crystals of ice.
Tubular
resembles a honeycomb structure of tubular shape.There are only in the tropics, is quite rare, and are associated with the formation of tropical cyclones.
Lenticular clouds in the form of lenses.Formed on the ridges, between layers of cold and warm air.They do not move, even in strong winds.Usually they can be seen from the ridges on the leeward side (height from 2 to 15 kilometers).
Pirokumulyativnye
Cumulus and cumulonimbus associated with the occurrence of volcanic activity, or - fire.The fire is creating an upward flow of air, which leads to condensation in the clouds.It is also possible lightning and thunder.And then the clouds there are new pockets of fire.
