1 minExplainer
How clouds form from invisible water vapor
7 min original · Original explainer · Science
Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that form when water vapor cools and condenses around microscopic particles. This explainer covers how rising air creates clouds, why some grow into storms, and how clouds reflect and trap heat.
Summary of a 7 min original
Key takeaways
- Clouds form when rising, humid air cools enough for vapor to condense
- Tiny particles give droplets a surface to form on
- Thick storm clouds need strong, moist updrafts
Chapters
Sources
Original from: Original explainer
Photo: Lance Vanlewen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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