- #1
Delong
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- 17
I know clouds are just condensed water vapor forming tiny droplets. Why do they have flat bottoms and all at the same plane? Is their a air density threshold that clouds form at? Thanks simply curious.
Evo said:Not all clouds have flat bottoms, this only applies to some clouds in some situations.
davenn said:because that's the condensation level.
Dave
Delong said:I think I know what you mean by condensation level but what causes it to be there? Is it because the air density is low enough there for water to condense? I can't see the temperature dramatically dropping off there so it must be density of medium
edward said:Some clouds even have round bottoms.
http://dottech.org/85471/remarkable...-with-round-bottoms-amazing-photo-of-the-day/
Due to adiabatic expansion (google that), any homogeneous volume of gas will cool as it rises or if it is large enough have a temperature gradient. So as you increase altitude and keep absolute humidity (humidity ratio) constant, relative humidity rises. Reach a certain altitude and relative humidity will equal 100%. Above that, clouds form.Delong said:I think I know what you mean by condensation level but what causes it to be there? Is it because the air density is low enough there for water to condense? I can't see the temperature dramatically dropping off there so it must be density of medium
Clouds have flat bottoms because of the process of condensation. As water vapor rises and cools, it condenses into tiny water droplets. These droplets then cling together to form clouds. As the air continues to rise, the water droplets continue to accumulate and form a cloud with a flat bottom.
The condensation that creates flat-bottomed clouds is caused by changes in air temperature and pressure. As warm, moist air rises, it cools and reaches its dew point, which is the temperature at which the air can no longer hold all of its water vapor. This causes the water vapor to condense and form clouds with flat bottoms.
No, not all clouds have flat bottoms. The shape and appearance of clouds can vary depending on the atmospheric conditions. Some clouds may have flat bottoms, while others may have rounded or irregular shapes. It all depends on the movement and interaction of air currents and the amount of moisture present in the air.
Flat-bottomed clouds do not necessarily indicate a specific type of weather. They can form in a variety of weather conditions, such as before a storm or on a clear day. However, they are often associated with fair weather, as they are typically caused by rising warm air that is not associated with precipitation.
The scientific term for flat-bottomed clouds is "stratocumulus." This type of cloud is characterized by its flat, layered shape and can be found at low to mid-level altitudes in the atmosphere. They are often seen in rows or patches and can cover a large portion of the sky.