Cloud physics

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Cloud physics is the area of study of physical processes that lead to the formation, growth and precipitation of clouds.

Clouds are composed of microscopic drops of water (in so-called warm clouds), or tiny crystals of ice, or both (mixed phase clouds), which condense from water vapour in the air. This can happen only when the conditions are suitable. Once a cloud is formed, it can dissipate or unload the water it contains as precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.). What actually happens is determined by a number of factors. Cloud physics attempts to study the physical processes that lie behind this.

Cloud physics is the branch of study that deals with the formation, evolution and dissipation of clouds and the formation of precipitation.

Clouds are classified according to the height at which they are found and their shape or appearance. The most commonly seen clouds are either stratiform (thin large layer) or cumuliform (with vertical development). Accordingly, we have stratus and cumulus clouds which are seen at low altitudes (around 2 km). Clouds of similar shape in the topmost region of the troposphere have the prefix cirro added to their names. Thus we have cirrostratus and cirrocumulus. The clouds found at intermediate heights have the prefix alto added to their names. The cloud type known as cirrus is found only in the topmost region of the troposphere. These are wispy clouds that appear like light brush strokes in the blue sky. In addition, we have the cumulonimbus, which is a cloud that virtually spans the entire troposphere from a few hundred metres above the ground up to the tropopause. The cumulonimbus is the cloud responsible for thunderstorms.