Water vapour and an invisible gas combine in the atmosphere to form liquid water droplets, which then form clouds. These water droplets form on tiny particles in the air, similar to dust. Clouds form when an air area cools to the point where water vapour condenses to liquid form.
Clouds control the earth’s energy balance by absorbing infrared radiation and scattering solar radiation. Clouds also redistribute excess energy from the equator to the poles and return water to the oceans and landmasses.
Read More – Cloud Formation
Important Questions with Answers
1. What are clouds?
The term cloud describes an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of liquid droplets, ice crystals, or other particles suspended in an atmosphere.
2. How would you describe the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is a mixture of gases which surrounds our earth. It is the atmosphere that makes life possible on earth. It is held near the planet’s surface by the earth’s gravitational attraction. A barometer is used to measure air pressure.
3. What is Infrared Radiation?
Infrared radiation (IR), also called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with a wavelength longer than visible light. From 700 nanometers to 1 millimetre, infrared light extends from the red edge of the visible spectrum. Due to this, it cannot be detected by the human eye, although pulsed lasers emitting IR up to 1050 nanometers (nm) can be seen in certain conditions.
4. Describe the process of cloud formation.
A mass of ice crystals or water drops suspended in the atmosphere is known as a cloud. A cloud is formed when the water condenses in the sky. The sky always possesses some water vapours, which are invisible to us. Clouds are formed when an air area becomes cooler until the water vapour there condenses to liquid form. As a result, the air is saturated with vapours of water.
5. In condensation, matter passes from its gaseous state into its liquid state.
- True
- False
Answer – A. True
Explanation- The cooler water particles no longer have enough energy to overcome the attraction forces between them. They combine to form droplets of liquid water, so condensation is the transformation of a gas into a liquid.
6. What are the three conditions that are needed in cloud formation?
The main three conditions needed for cloud formation are – moisture, condensation, and temperature.
7. Why do clouds get too dark?
The darkness of the cloud is based on the density or thickness of the cloud. We already know that clouds are made up of tiny water droplets. Sunlight can be reflected by these droplets. The light passes through a cloud and reflects evenly off all the droplets, making the cloud appear white. When this light comes to our eye, it appears white.
When clouds get thicker, they build vertically, such as cumulonimbus clouds. Due to this, less light can pass through. Because of this, the bottom of clouds may appear darker than the top. That’s why clouds make it appear darker.
8. What holds clouds up, and why are some fluffy on top but flat on the bottom?
Clouds are made up of tiny liquid water droplets and shards of ice in various shapes. When tiny cloud liquid water droplets remain liquid at temperatures as low as – 10°C (14° Fahrenheit), they are called supercooled water droplets. These droplets experience a gravitational force in the downward direction. However, because the droplets are so tiny and have small masses, the gravitational force can be easily balanced by an upward friction force caused by the droplets’ interaction with the air molecules around them. The droplets remain suspended, which keeps clouds in the air.
Clouds that appear fluffy from the top are evidence of convection, which occurs when buoyant air parcels within the cloud rise to the top. In the rising process, the air encounters lower and lower pressures, which causes it to expand and cool. When these droplets grow in size, their mass increases, and eventually, the gravitational force overcomes the friction force; the larger droplets start to fall on the surface.
9. Clouds regulate the earth’s energy balance by absorbing infrared radiation and scattering solar radiation.
- True
- False
Answer – A. True
Explanation- Clouds are nothing but condensed water vapour masses that exhibit visible signs of atmospheric processes at work. They regulate the earth’s energy balance by absorbing infrared radiation and scattering solar radiation.
10. Clouds help redistribute extra heat from the _________.
- equator to the pole
- pole to the equator
- pole to the pole
- none of the above
Answer – A. equator to the pole
Explanation – clouds redistribute surplus energy from the equator to the poles and return water to the oceans and landmasses.
Practice Questions
- Why are clouds important?
- What is the actual colour of the clouds?
- Are clouds moving, or is the earth?
- Can we create clouds at home? If yes, please describe it in detail.
- Why do clouds turn grey before it rains
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Watch the video below to learn more about condensation.
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