What causes the shape of a cloud?

1 Answer
Don Mac
Apr 22, 2016

To some degree, random movements of air and temperature/pressure differences that determine if a when a cloud will form.

Explanation:

Cumulus clouds form as hot air rises and when they reach the saturation point, cloud droplets start to condense out and they get dispersed somewhat randomly as the air moves around - so they end up being fluffy and cauliflower like. When a towering cumulus cloud reaches the cold stratosphere, it tends to gets a flat top. See pic.

http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/~wintelsw/MET1010LOL/web/notes/chapter11/airmass_cumulus4.html image source here

High cirrus cloud form very high up and their shape is usually determined by upper level winds that give them a wispy shape.
see pic. 2.

http://wnct.com/blog/2015/08/25/how-to-tell-the-weather-by-looking-at-the-clouds/ image source here

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