NORFOLK, Va. — Spotting a cumulus cloud is pretty easy. The clouds resemble pieces of cotton candy, but why are cumulus clouds fluffy and not flat?
To fully understand why, we need to start with the basics of the water cycle. The three main elements of the water cycle are evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
When the surface of a body of water gets hot enough, the liquid water transitions into water vapor. Then, the warm water vapor rises into the sky.
As the vapor ascends, the particles cool and condense. The particles begin to build on top of themselves and form piles of cooled water droplets.
Like building blocks, the small piles stack on top of one another and create that fluffy look we traditionally see in cumulus clouds.
The word “cumulus” is Latin for “accumulation, heap, or pile,” which directly describes the cloud’s structure. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, cumulus clouds are generally over half a mile wide.
These clouds are low-level clouds that signify nice conditions. So, the cumulus clouds are often referred to as "fair-weather cumulus."
Cumulus clouds can mature in unstable environments and become cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with thunderstorms. If the conditions are right, these storms could produce severe weather.
Comparatively, stratus clouds are known for their flat appearance. When you see stratus clouds, expect light rain.
So those little pieces of white cotton candy in the sky are fluffy thanks to water vapor and the water cycle. That's how your weather works!