Explain why an inversion represents an absolutely sta-ble atmosphere. Within the inversion, warm air overlies cold air, and, if air rises into the inversion, it is becoming colder, while the air around it is getting warmer. The cumulonimbus rises to the very stable stratosphere and spreads out. Describe the conditions necessary to produce stra-tocumulus clouds by mixing. Starting with stratus clouds, the bottom warms faster than the top making an unstable situation.
Convective cells push clouds up and downdrafts clear out the cloud droplets.
Subsiding air on the outer edges of a cumulus cloud inhibit thermals rising, thus leaving the sky blue. List four primary ways clouds form and describe the formation of one cloud type by each method. Mountains force air up causing lenticular and cumulus type of clouds called orographic clouds. Convergence of air at surface causes air to rise, cool and condense into cumulus type clouds. Warm fronts lift air gradually, causing stratus and cirrus type clouds.