wolke

Wolke is the German noun for "cloud." It refers to a visible aggregation of minute droplets of water or ice crystals suspended in the Earth's atmosphere. Clouds form when moist air rises or cools, causing water vapor to condense on condensation nuclei.

Clouds are commonly classified by altitude and appearance. In German, the plural is Wolken. Low-level clouds include Stratus and Cumulus; mid-level includes Altocumulus and Altostratus; high-level includes Cirrus. Clouds of vertical development, such as cumulonimbus, can extend through multiple layers and are often associated with storms. Cloud formation is driven by processes such as convection, orographic lifting, and radiative cooling.

Clouds play a central role in meteorology and weather forecasting. They influence surface temperatures, precipitation, and visibility. Meteorologists observe cloud cover, type, height, and movement; measurement uses satellites, ground observers, and standardized terms for cloud cover.

In German language and culture, the word Wolke is used beyond the physical sense. Phrases include auf Wolke sieben sein (to be on cloud nine) and Wolkenbruch (a sudden heavy rain shower or cloud burst).

In modern German usage, the term Wolke is also used to translate "the cloud" in computing contexts, as in Cloud Computing (Cloud-Computing) and digital services hosted remotely.