Clouds

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Take a step back from the drudgery of down-to-earth living and become aware of the artistry and science of the atmosphere. Made by: Marium Mustafa

Clouds have always been the mother nature’s most exquisite piece of beauty; with the sun’s dynamic & at times lighthearted shine accompanying, it stimulates in us an extreme sense of devotion & gratitude towards its Creator; clouds at sky with their fluffy, snow white, almost untouchable entity; slowly drifting off to kiss the heavens always make me wonder about their hidden spiritual & mystical realities. At evenings; sunsets with a playful yellow or a magical deep orange with hints of the shade red have never failed to inspire me and invigorate my spirit.

How do clouds form? Clouds form when moist air cools enough for water vapor to condense into droplets or ice crystals. The height at which this happens depends on the humidity and the rate at which temperature drops with elevation (distance from the ground).

Photo-gallery:

CLOUDS

A "mackerel sky" adds to a striking sunset scene in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England.

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge appears to float on a sea of surrounding clouds. Such low-level clouds, called stratus clouds, occur below 6,500 feet and often bring rain or snow.

Cumulonimbus clouds are the highest of all clouds. Their distinctive anvil-top shapes occur because of the high lateral winds encountered at such altitudes. Clouds that touch the ground are known as fog

The beauty of a Tassajara, California, sunset is enhanced by towering cumulonimbus clouds. These tallest of all clouds often produce violent storms of rain, thunder, lightning, hail, and high winds.

The bright lights of Tucson, Arizona, are more than matched by a flash of lightning far above the city skyline. The scene shows a classic cumulonimbus cloud formation.

Colorful clouds and calm water create a striking sunset scene for canoeists on Winisk River in Ontario, Canada. A single cloud may hold billions of pounds of water— but not all clouds bring rain.

A horizontal bank of cloud cover enhances an aerial view of Crater Lake, Oregon. Clouds appear white because they reflect sunlight.

Light, fluffy clouds stretch across the broad sky of South Africa's Kalahari Desert. Most clouds are produced by the upward motion of air, which may be caused by weather or local topography.