How many differnt types of clouds are there?
EARTH SCIENCE Cloud Cloud, condensed form of atmospheric moisture consisting of small water droplets or tiny ice crystals. Clouds, the principal visible phenomena of the atmosphere, represent a step in water’s cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Cloud formation caused by cooling of the air results in the condensation of invisible water vapor that produces visible cloud droplets or ice particles (see Meteorology). Different cloud formations result partly from the temperature at which condensation takes place and partly from the air motion associated with the formation. Clouds help modify the distribution of solar heat over the earth’s surface and within the atmosphere (see Solar Energy). In 1803 British meteorologist Luke Howard developed the first method of cloud classification. A later classification system formed the basis for the International Cloud Atlas (1896), now used worldwide. Clouds are usually divided into four main families based on their height above the
