The nature of the planet Earth is impressive — it consists of the cycles of chemical compounds in different aggregate states at distinct levels. Water is the essential substance without which life would not be possible, and the formation of clouds with the subsequent fallout plays a not insignificant role in the cycle of water existence. Such a stage allows redistributing molecules from water bodies to land or back to the water body.
It should be understood that regardless of shape, size, and color, clouds consist of water vapor condensed from the evaporation of land and oceans. Typically, a drop in overall temperature and an increase in air humidity causes the phase transition of moisture from a gaseous state to a liquid or solid state, expressed as ice floes. Moreover, the temperature decrease is caused not only by the upward airflow but also by the horizontal movement of air masses, leading to the separation of hot and cold flows by densities.
It is interesting to note that a significant role in the parallel formation of different types of clouds is played by cyclones, in particular, middle-latitude cyclones. First of all, cyclones are understood as a vast atmospheric vortex with a diameter of hundreds to thousands of kilometers associated with the movement of a warm front. In the central zone of the vortex, low pressure is formed, and warm air flows are directed upwards (“Cyclones,” n.d.). In this process, the air masses evaporating from the land or water surface spiral and expand adiabatically. As a result of the increased volume, the air, without receiving any heat from outside, only works with its internal energy and is then cooled down. As a result, stratus, cumulus, and rain clouds are formed.
Simultaneously, all clouds of cyclonic origin should form precipitation, creating rainy and cloudy weather, typical for cyclones of mid-latitude. Under the influence of attraction and electrostatic forces, tiny drops of liquid water in the cloud mass are attracted to each other, forming larger ones. By surpassing the force of upward air currents, the coarse droplets, called precipitation, tend towards the center of the Earth. Moreover, if there is moisture in the cloud and particles of dust, dirt, or sand, the condensation process is rapidly accelerated, as solid elements play the role of condensation cores.
References
Cyclones. (n.d.). Lumen. 2020.