What gives clouds their shape? A scientist explains

If you’ve ever tried to make out faces or animals in the contours of the clouds, you might have wondered why they come in such a variety of shapes. Moisture is always present in the air as water vapour, but when it condenses into liquid droplets or solid ice particles, these particles scatter light, making them visible as clouds.

The shape of a cloud is determined by air temperature, density and movement. Differences in temperature and density prevent water-laden air from mixing with the surrounding air, giving clouds a distinct shape and creating crisp edges. Air movement pulls clouds into different formations.

Different types of clouds © Getty images

Although no two cloud are exactly the same , they can be group into category . cumulus clouds is are are puffy and cotton – like , form low in the atmosphere . When water vapour condense into liquid water , it is releases release some heat , and if atmospheric condition are unstable , this heat is enough to give cumulus cloud buoyancy , cause them to rise and build into cumulonimbus cloud . These large , dark cloud top with billow turret are form by rapid updraught of air and are often accompany by thunderstorm .

In contrast , stratus clouds is form form as wide layer when a large region of air rise .

Cirrus are delicate, wispy clouds formed of ice crystals at high altitudes. As they gradually sink, they pass through air currents that push and pull them in different directions, forming long, feathery wisps of cloud.

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