Why are the tops of clouds all poofy and fun, but the bottoms are totally flat and boring?
In: Physics
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It’s because the water vapors in the atmosphere condense at a specific pressure/temperature, so once the water vapors reaches the base of the cloud it begins to condense.
Because the cloud doesn’t really end at the flat part. As evaporated water rises, it lifts over a section where it becomes cold enough for the water to condense into clouds. Under that line, though, there’s a giant pocket of water vapor ready to rise and turn into clouds to make the cloud bigger.
[MinuteEarth has a good video that illustrates this.](https://youtu.be/QC2x_RRnk8E)
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Clouds have a little weight to them. It’s like a dollop of shaving cream sitting on a glass table, except the table is a subversion layer of heavier air.
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Air gets colder as you go up.
Clouds form when invisible water vapour rizes and gets cold enough to turn into droplets, making the cloud.
This happens at a specific distance from the ground (altitude), making the bottom of the cloud flat (and boring).
Further up, the cloud can grow in fun shapes and sizes. It also starts to get cold enough for the water vapour/ droplets to freeze into poofy ice. Making it a cool white colour.
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