Cloud physics describes the area of study of physical processes that lead to the formation, growth and precipitation of clouds.
Clouds are composed of microscopic drops of water (in so-called warm clouds), or tiny crystals of ice, or both (mixed phase clouds), which condense from water vapour in the air. This can happen only when the conditions are suitable. Once a cloud is formed, it can dissipate or unload the water it contains as precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.). What actually happens is determined by a number of factors. Cloud physics attempts to study the physical processes that lie behind this.
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