Where Do Clouds Go When the Skies Are Clear?

Have you ever looked up at the sky on a clear day and wondered, 'Where did the clouds go?' When the skies are clear, it often indicates that the atmospheric conditions are not conducive to cloud formation. There are several reasons for the disappearance of clouds, including evaporation, movement, atmospheric stability, and the absence of moisture.

Factors Leading to Clear Skies

Evaporation: When the air is warm and dry, moisture in the clouds can evaporate, causing them to disappear. This process involves the conversion of liquid water into water vapor, which disperses into the atmosphere.

Movement: Clouds can be blown away by winds to other areas, contributing to different weather patterns. This movement can cause clouds to dissipate as they are carried further away from their origin.

Stability in the Atmosphere: In stable atmospheric conditions, the air does not rise enough to form new clouds, leading to clear skies. When the air stays still, it cannot hold onto moisture necessary for cloud formation.

Absence of Moisture: If the air lacks sufficient moisture, clouds cannot form or sustain themselves. Without the necessary moisture, any existing clouds will evaporate or fail to form, leading to clear skies.

Understanding Clouds and Their Disappearance

Clouds are essentially condensed water, not vapor like steam. They consist of millions of tiny droplets of liquid water. You have likely felt mist on your face when walking in a foggy area or seen dew forming on cold windows or night-cooled plants. Clouds form when the air carrying invisible water vapor gets cold enough, reaching the dew point, and there are nucleating sites such as dust, pollen, or sea salt particles for the moisture to condense upon.

In contrast, when the surrounding air warms up to a temperature above the dew point, the water in the cloud gains enough energy to evaporate again, turning back into water vapor that is invisible to the naked eye. This process reverses the formation of clouds.

QA

Question: Where do the clouds go when the skies are clear?

Answer: If the skies are clear, then there are no clouds to go anywhere. They simply do not form above a high-pressure area where warm air currents are rising. For clouds to form, the air must be cool enough to allow the vapor to condense into droplets. When the surrounding air warms up, the water in the cloud evaporates, leading to a clear sky.

Michael wrote: They evaporate. This is indeed correct, as the clouds dissolve back into the atmosphere due to the warming of the surrounding air.