Pilvimuodostumia

Pilvimuodostumia refers to cloud formations, the visible masses of condensed water droplets or ice crystals suspended in Earth's atmosphere. These formations are classified based on their appearance, altitude, and the processes that create them. The primary classification system divides clouds into ten main genera: Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, and Cumulonimbus.

Cirrus clouds are high-altitude, wispy clouds made of ice crystals. Cirrocumulus and cirrostratus are also high-altitude, with cirrocumulus appearing as small, rounded puffs and cirrostratus forming a thin, sheet-like veil. Mid-level clouds include altocumulus, which are white or gray patches of rounded masses, and altostratus, a uniform gray or bluish sheet. Nimbostratus are dark, gray, featureless clouds that produce continuous rain or snow.

Low-level clouds include stratocumulus, which are large, dark, rounded masses, and stratus, a gray, uniform layer resembling fog. Cumulus clouds are detached, dense clouds with sharp outlines, often described as "fair-weather" clouds, though they can develop into towering cumulonimbus. Cumulonimbus clouds are massive, vertically developing clouds associated with thunderstorms, heavy precipitation, and severe weather. Cloud formation is driven by atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity, leading to condensation or deposition of water vapor onto tiny particles called condensation nuclei.