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Cloud watching
Paigetheoracle Started conversation Jun 18, 2018
What do clouds float on? I know you get different kinds at different heights but I am referring to cumulus clouds that are fluffy on top but have a flat bottom, which reminded me of foam floating on water, which also has this form.
Cloud watching
Baron Grim Posted Jun 18, 2018
They're not floating in the traditional sense of buoyancy. The water particles in clouds are small enough that they are blown around by wind currents. As the drops get larger, their mass/weight will become great enough to overcome the air resistance determined by their size. The reason for the flat bottoms of some clouds is determined by wind patterns in differing strata in the atmosphere.
Here's a better description of cloud particle behaviour. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-clouds-float-when/
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Cloud watching
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