Eli5 Why the clouds are around that height and not lower in the atmosphere?

Question

Eli5 Why the clouds are around that height and not lower in the atmosphere?

In: 8

Answer 1

Clouds can be at basically any altitude where there’s air. “That height” as you’ve asked, doesn’t exist.

Clouds at ground level are called “fog”

Non-fog clouds can be anywhere to include over 50,000 feet. There are thunderstorms, for example, that are completely clouded from 100ft all the way up to 50,000 feet. You can also have layered clouds, where (for example) you’ve got a cloud layer from 1,000 to 5,000, then clear air from 5k to 10k, then more clouds from 10k to 25k, then clear air above that.