Condensation
Condensation refers to when water changes from a gas into a liquid. This occurs when water vapour in the air is cooled into tiny liquid drops and forms clouds. The process is helped along by the presence of tiny particles such as dust and smoke in the air that water vapour can collect upon while cooling to form larger drops of water.
Different types of clouds
CirrusClouds that look wispy are usually very high. It is colder high in the atmosphere and the water vapour will have turned to ice. High clouds are unlikely to cause rain. |
These are Cirrus clouds. They usually form more than five and a half kilometres in the air!
Source: Wikipedia
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StratusClouds that stretch across the sky, like a white or grey sheet with stripes, are called stratus clouds. They form at a middle level in the atmosphere. They may produce rain showers or snow. |
These are Stratus clouds. Look at how they streak across the sky.
Source: Ms. Mangus' Cloud Website
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CumulusClouds that look like cottonwool balls or long rolls of fluff are lower level cumulus clouds. They may be white or grey and can produce drizzle (very light rain) or showers. |
These are Cumulus clouds. They usually have flat bases and lumpy tops.
Source:Wikipedia
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CumulonimbusLarger cauliflower shaped clouds which reach up into the sky are named cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds may bring thunderstorm and can hold rain, hail or snow. |
These are Cumulonimbus clouds. They tend to be very large clouds and develop vertically.
Source:This photo is © 1999 Tim Vasquez and is released under the terms of GNU FDL.
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FogFog or mist is really just low-lying cloud. |
Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, a small city in Germany, is covered in fog. Notice how low the fog is hanging, while the rest of the hillside is sunny and pleasant.
Source: Wikipedia
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