Ever wondered why clouds look so different - some fluffy, some streaky, and others perfectly smooth? The secret lies in how air moves and cools at different altitudes. When warm, moist air rises, it expands and cools. Once it reaches its dew point, the water vapour condenses into tiny droplets or ice crystals, forming clouds.

The shape depends on air movement and stability. Strong upward currents in unstable air create towering cumulus clouds, while gentle, widespread lifting in stable air produces thin, flat stratus layers. At higher altitudes, winds stretch icy clouds into wispy cirrus formations.

Even terrain plays a role - mountains can force air upward, forming lenticular clouds that look like flying saucers. According to scientists at the UCAR Center for Science Education and Science Focus, these varied patterns reveal invisible air motions in the atmosphere.

So, every cloud formation we see - from cotton-like puffs to smooth waves - is nature’s way of showing us how the air above is moving.