Why there is no rain when clouds are scattered?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Muthumanimaran
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Rain
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Rain occurs primarily from dense clouds, as scattered clouds often lack sufficient moisture to produce precipitation. When clouds are dense, the rain droplets can reach the ground before evaporating. In contrast, on moderately cloudy days, clouds have a higher chance of dissipating without raining due to lower moisture concentration. Weather patterns, such as pop-up thunderstorms, can also lead to rain from isolated clouds, even in otherwise clear skies.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of cloud formation and types
  • Knowledge of humidity and relative humidity (RH)
  • Familiarity with precipitation processes
  • Basic meteorological concepts related to weather patterns
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between cloud density and precipitation
  • Study the mechanisms of pop-up thunderstorms
  • Explore the effects of humidity on weather patterns
  • Learn about the role of temperature in condensation and precipitation
USEFUL FOR

Meteorologists, weather enthusiasts, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of precipitation and cloud behavior.

Muthumanimaran
Messages
79
Reaction score
2
Raining only occurs when there are dense clouds in the sky, when they are scattered the raining is stopped, why?
 
Science news on Phys.org
In many clouds, it actually is raining. It's just that there isn't much rain falling and it evaporates before it gets to the ground. In a larger, denser cloud, the rain reaches the ground before it has a chance to evaporate.
 
Rain comes from clouds. Clouds are opaque because they contain condensed water dropplets.
 
This is not always true. When I lived in Houston Texas, there could be a medium sized single dark cloud pouring rain as it crossed over you, with otherwise clear skies. As the cloud was approaching or leaving, you could see a "wall" of water coming down from the leading or trailing edge of the cloud.
 
Maybe I misunderstood the question. If he was asking why rain is more likely on very cloudy days than moderately cloudy days, it is because a very cloudy day has more moisture in the sky. On a moderately cloudy day, a cloud has an easier opportunity to dissipate instead of raining.

But as per the above, certain weather patterns can cause rain from lone clouds, particularly pop-up thunderstorms.
 
russ_watters said:
Maybe I misunderstood the question. If he was asking why rain is more likely on very cloudy days than moderately cloudy days, it is because a very cloudy day has more moisture in the sky. On a moderately cloudy day, a cloud has an easier opportunity to dissipate instead of raining.

no, not necessarily ... you can have almost 100% humidity on a sunny summer day and not a cloud in sight. ie. the air/atmosphere is very moisture laden

its the concentration of moisture per unit of volume combined with temperature that will cause condensation and then precipitation
 
davenn said:
no, not necessarily ... you can have almost 100% humidity on a sunny summer day and not a cloud in sight. ie. the air/atmosphere is very moisture laden
A cloud is at 100% RH (or greater), which is greater than "almost 100%.
its the concentration of moisture per unit of volume combined with temperature that will cause condensation and then precipitation
Agreed.
 
russ_watters said:
A cloud is at 100% RH (or greater), which is greater than "almost 100%.

Agreed.

just pointing out that you can have 100% humidity on a couldless day
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Spectrometer Shows More Blue light on cloudy Day....why?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Scattering of light inside a room
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
High School Is It Better to Run or Walk in the Rain?
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
8K
High School Why don't clouds refract light?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
7K
High School Scattering of light by dust particles
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Why Do Rain Clouds Produce Lightning While Normal Clouds Don’t?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Basic question about Scattering and understanding colors
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Graduate On Rayleigh Scattering and UV Light Absorption
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
Why Do We Catch Colds When Wet in the Rain?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School Optical effect seen on a bus: mirrored screen shows different colors
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
11K