What are clouds and how do they form?
Clouds are natural phenomena that add beauty and well as function to the atmosphere. Clouds form in the troposphere, which is the lowest portion of the earth s atmosphere. The word derives from the Greek “tropos,” meaning turning or mixing. Most daily weather phenomena occur in the troposphere. Because climate is dynamic, different conditions of turbulence give rise to many types of clouds. Many types occur so frequently that scientists name them, and it is known that some atmospheric conditions can cause the clouds to organize in distinct patterns, such as wave clouds or actinoform clouds. The cold region of the troposphere, above 23,000 feet, is where clouds develop. At this altitude, water almost always freezes and ice crystals are the main component of the clouds that form. They are usually wispy and transparent and known as cirrus clouds, of which there are more than a dozen variations. They are known to have a traditional “mare s tail” appearance with no tufts or curls at the end
