Do clouds power the water cycle?
The sun provides what almost everything on Earth needs to go—energy, or heat. Heat causes liquid and frozen water to evaporate into water vapor gas, which rises high in the sky to form clouds… clouds that move over the globe and drop rain and snow. This process is a large part of the water cycle.
What would happen without sunlight?
With no sunlight, photosynthesis would stop, but that would only kill some of the plants—there are some larger trees that can survive for decades without it. Within a few days, however, the temperatures would begin to drop, and any humans left on the planet’s surface would die soon after.
Why are there no clouds?
The usual reason for the absence of clouds will be the type of pressure, with the area being under the influence of a high pressure or anticyclone. Air would be sinking slowly, rather than rising and cooling.
What happens if there are no clouds?
No clouds means no rain, ice, or snow. That means drinking-water supplies wouldn’t get replenished. Water shortages also spell trouble for power plants that rely on heating fresh water. Without clouds to reflect light from the sun, global temperatures would spike.
Why are clouds important in the water cycle?
Clouds and water vapor act as insulators in the atmosphere. Clouds help shield the Earth from the Sun and trap heat from below. When cloud particles grow large enough, they may fall out as rain or snow.
How are clouds formed and how are they formed?
How Do Clouds Form? Clouds are created when water vapor, an invisible gas, turns into liquid water droplets. These water droplets form on tiny particles, like dust, that are floating in the air.
How does condensation affect the formation of clouds?
Without condensation, the water cycle would not be in motion. The water molecules in water vapor are farthest apart and most randomly arranged, but as water vapor cools, the water molecules become more condensed and structured, forming clouds. Up in the sky, the temperature is lower.
How are clouds formed in the southern Indian Ocean?
Clouds are created when water vapor, an invisible gas, turns into liquid water droplets. These water droplets form on tiny particles, like dust, that are floating in the air. A camera on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of clouds over the Southern Indian Ocean. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech