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How do clouds form?
Convergence
Very often, low pressure systems are accompanied by warm and cold fronts, but not always. In a low pressure system, air flows in and around the area with the lowest pressure. The converging air has to go somewhere, so it rises and clouds can form.
Why does air flow from high to low pressure?
Let's say you have two rooms separated by an airtight door. One room has a high air pressure, and the other room has low air pressure. In other words, the first room has more air molecules than the second room. If you open the door, molecules will tend to move from the high to low pressure. The same is true in the atmosphere - air moves from high to low pressure.
Another example can be shown with a balloon. The air pressure in a blown-up balloon is higher than the air surrounding it. So if you poke it with a pin, the air rushes out of the balloon - often so fast there is a POP!
Read about what causes pressure here.
Read about why the wind blows here.
Ever wonder what's in a cloud? Click here to find out!
You can find out more about what is inside a cloud in the next section.
Back to cloud topics
Links and resources
Convergence
Very often, low pressure systems are accompanied by warm and cold fronts, but not always. In a low pressure system, air flows in and around the area with the lowest pressure. The converging air has to go somewhere, so it rises and clouds can form.
Why does air flow from high to low pressure?Let's say you have two rooms separated by an airtight door. One room has a high air pressure, and the other room has low air pressure. In other words, the first room has more air molecules than the second room. If you open the door, molecules will tend to move from the high to low pressure. The same is true in the atmosphere - air moves from high to low pressure.
Another example can be shown with a balloon. The air pressure in a blown-up balloon is higher than the air surrounding it. So if you poke it with a pin, the air rushes out of the balloon - often so fast there is a POP!
Read about what causes pressure here.
Read about why the wind blows here.
Ever wonder what's in a cloud? Click here to find out!
You can find out more about what is inside a cloud in the next section.
Back to cloud topics
Links and resources
