EarthProfessor

The "Professor" represents our team of researchers and writers. Both adults and kids have tons of questions about our planet. Our job is to answer them!

Why do thunderstorms form in the afternoon?

In the summer, thunderstorms typically develop in the afternoon when the sun heats air near the ground. If the atmosphere is unstable, bubbles of warm air will rise and produce clouds, precipitation, and eventually lightning. Another frequently asked question is “Why do thunderstorms happen in the afternoon?”. According to PAGASA, rain showers or thunderstorms usually …

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What clouds precipitate?

A few extra things to take a look at: cumulonimbus clouds: severe storms, sources, nimbostratus clouds: rain, rain go away! Altocumulus clouds : warm with a risk of storms, cirrostratus clouds: moisture moving in, altostratus clouds: expect light rain, and stratus clouds: fog. You could be asking “What clouds bring rain?” The city was shrouded …

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Why do clouds defy gravity?

Karl Kruszelnicki explains why they seemingly defy gravity. Clouds must have weight, because water has weight. A cloud is many, many tiny “clumps” of water, either liquid or frozen. This begs the question “Why don’t clouds have gravity?” Clouds are composed primarily of small water droplets and when it’s cold enough, they form into ice …

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Which cloud is gray?

Stratus clouds are among the low-lying clouds. They are gray clouds that cover the entire sky and can be the result of very thick fog lifting in the morning. Nimbostratus clouds are dark gray clouds that produce falling rain or snow. Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds are both known as vertical clouds. It is also known …

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