Clouds are visible droplets or ice crystal aggregates in the atmosphere that are predominantly watery and contain a variety of other smaller amounts of chemicals, suspended particulate matter also known as aerosols. The science of studying clouds is called cloud physics, which is a branch of meteorology. In fact, clouds refer to droplet ice crystal aggregates that are farther from the ground, and those closer to the surface are called fog, but the chemical composition of the two is actually the same. Clouds have also been observed on some other planets and moons in the solar system. Due to the different temperature characteristics of each planet, there are many kinds of materials that make up the cloud, such as methane, ammonia, and sulfuric acid.
It is also known that the main structure of clouds is water, which becomes a cloud when the water vapor in the atmosphere reaches saturated vapor pressure. On Earth, water vapor can reach saturation for two reasons: the cooling of air and the increase in water vapor. When clouds are denser than air buoyancy, some clouds fall to the ground, forming precipitation; flag-like clouds do not form precipitation because all liquid water evaporates before reaching the surface. Clouds are the best example of water circulation and energy on Earth. The sun radiates electromagnetic waves to the surface, providing heat to evaporate surface water to form water vapor; finally, clouds release latent heat by precipitation and return the water to the surface.
The "posture" of clouds is also various, mainly including the following, named according to the reason or appearance of their formation.
Frontal cloud
When the cold and warm fronts meet, the warm masses with higher temperatures and usually higher water vapor content are lifted at the front because of their lighter weight, forming clouds. A good example of the plum rains in Taiwan from April to June are a good example, and a long strip of continuous clouds can often be seen on weather maps.
Terrain clouds
When moist air is blown to a place where the terrain climbs due to sea breezes, monsoons, trade winds, valley winds, etc., the moist air will rise along the positive terrain to a low temperature high, forming clouds. The rain caused by topographic clouds is called topographic rain, and the Kirapangi region of India often causes a lot of precipitation due to topographic clouds and topographic rain.
Stratosphere clouds
When the air mass passes through a cooler lower surface, such as a cold body of water, it may become a cloud.
Convective clouds
Convective clouds When air convects, warm air with a higher moisture content usually rises due to lighter temperatures, and may become clouds when it reaches a low temperature.
Cyclone clouds
Clouds produced by water vapor rising with cyclonic currents, such as cloud cells abundant in typhoon systems.
Cumulus of fire
Cumulus pyrocumulus is a fairly thick cumulus cloud that often forms with high temperatures such as volcanoes or wildfires. Cumulus pyrocumulus is formed when air from the surface is heated to extremely high temperatures. High heat produces convection that causes the gas to rise to a stable area, forming a cloud. The World Meteorological Organization does not classify Cumulus Plexiumulus as a separate category, but rather as cumulus.
Mushroom-shaped clouds
A mushroom-shaped cloud is a mushroom-shaped Cumulus cloud composed of soot, usually caused by the compression of water vapor caused by the Big Bang. When the water vapor is decompressed, the temperature decreases, forming clouds. Mushroom clouds are common in nuclear explosions, volcanic eruptions, and impact events. The World Meteorological Organization does not classify fungus as a separate category, but rather in cumulus clouds.