Clouds

Clouds might seem like white fluffy candyfloss, but that is not the case. Clouds are created and destroyed using three steps. Condensation, Evaporation and Precipitation.

Condensation is the fog that comes up on windows in the morning. This usually occurs when the room is warm inside but the air outside of the room is cold. The temperature difference can be from 3 – 20 degrees Celsius. Condensation is used to help the creation of clouds because this is when all the water is being collected from the rivers, oceans and the lawns.

When clouds are created, the air needs to somehow get hold of water. The water vapour is collected from oceans, rivers lakes and sometimes wet lawns and rises up slowly. This is called Evaporation. As the pressure in the air rises above average, the water vapour slowly stops rising and clashes together to create a white poofy cloud. Magical isn’t it?

While the cloud is still rising into the stratosphere (the lower atmosphere) all the water vapour is still collecting in the cloud. As the cloud stops rising it gets heavier and then it decomposes/breaks and creates something we call Precipitation. This occurs when a cloud gets too heavy and can’t contain any more water vapour drops it explodes and rains water. But if the clouds go past the glacier point all water freezes up and it either hails or snows.

Clouds are created and destroyed by three steps called Precipitation, Condensation and Evaporation. The three well known steps of a water cycle. Evaporation, when the water is rising and creating clouds. Precipitation, when a cloud is destroyed and gives earth back the water it took. Condensation, when the water is being collected before the Evaporation stage.