Final answer:
Clouds form when water vapor rises into the atmosphere, cools, and condenses on particles like smoke, salt, or dust. Cool air has less capacity to hold water vapor, leading to condensation and cloud formation. The condensation process releases heat, contributing to cloud growth and the potential for precipitation and storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of cloud formation involves several steps. Firstly, water vapor must rise into the atmosphere. As this water vapor ascends, it encounters cooler air and begins to cool down. Cool air cannot hold as much water vapor, causing the excess water vapor to condense into tiny droplets of liquid water. This condensation typically occurs on particles such as smoke, salt, or dust, which act as condensation nuclei. Over time, these droplets accumulate and form what we recognize as clouds.
Condensation and Precipitation are vital aspects of this process. As water from oceans and other sources evaporates, the rising air currents carry the vapor upwards. When the vapor cools sufficiently, it undergoes condensation, often resulting in precipitation - which can be rain, snow, sleet, hail, or freezing rain.
Another concept related to cloud formation is positive feedback within weather systems. As the condensed water vapor forms liquid droplets in clouds, heat is released, causing the air to expand and rise to colder altitudes. More condensation occurs in these higher, colder regions, leading to cloud growth and sometimes resulting in violent weather phenomena like thunderstorms or hurricanes.