Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: thedoc on 31/03/2016 18:50:02

Title: Is there a maximum height for clouds?
Post by: thedoc on 31/03/2016 18:50:02

Kaz Kazim  asked the Naked Scientists:

When the plane reaches a certain height, and is above the clouds, I notice the clouds are all level rather than unevenly distributed?

Questions:

1. How high do the clouds get up to and why?

2. Why don't do they go any higher?

3. Why are they all level?

Love the programme (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts) for its intellectual stimulation, followed by brilliant answers in simple/comprehensible language.
Listen to it as much as I possibly can,  here in Sydney, Australia, Down Under.

Keep up the [very] good work in enlightening us all & nurturing the love of science.

Thank you.
Kind regards.

Kaz, Sydney, Australia, Down Under
 
What do you think?

Title: Re: Is there a maximum height for clouds?
Post by: RD on 05/04/2016 11:07:36

 There's a catchy NASA song about the highest clouds ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xF2vSKINK0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xF2vSKINK0)

Title: Re: Is there a maximum height for clouds?
Post by: evan_au on 05/04/2016 12:10:48

We are used to lightning coming down from clouds to the ground.

But in the last 20 years there have been various kinds of lightning observed going up from the clouds into the ionosphere, with whimsical names like sprites, elves and jets. These can extend up to 100km above ground level.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning

Title: Re: Is there a maximum height for clouds?
Post by: hamdani yusuf on 24/06/2016 09:44:01

Clouds contain mostly water vapor (H2O) which are lighter than air on earth surface (O2 & N2). They stop raising as their density equal lighter gases in upper atmosphere.