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Posted by on Jan 22, 2016 in TellMeWhy |

How Do Clouds Move in the Sky?

How Do Clouds Move in the Sky?

How Do Clouds Move in the Sky? Clouds are formed when water evaporates from rivers, ponds, oceans, and lakes. The tiny droplets of water cling to particles like (dust, salt, or smoke). The air containing this evaporated water vapor rises and expands at higher altitudes where the air pressure is lower and clouds move with the wind.

High cirrus clouds are moved by a jet stream and sometimes travel at 100 mph. When clouds are a part of a thunderstorm, they usually travel at 30-40 mph. Clouds do not fall to the ground as they are made up of tiny droplets of water, which fall very slowly through air and come down with rain or snow.

Clouds are part of the whole always-moving atmosphere of the earth. We just notice the movement of the clouds because we can see them. The rest of the air is moving too. Wind is also a sign of this air movement. All this movement comes about because different parts of the earth’s atmosphere are heated to different levels by the sun. The energy imbalance causes air to move.

Content for this question contributed by Lesley Mahler, resident of Hermiston, Umatilla County, Oregon, USA