SmallQuestions
Why do leaves change color? Leaves change color when trees stop making as much chlorophyll, the green pigment that helps turn sunlight into food. As autumn days become shorter and cooler, green fades and other pigments already in the leaf—or revealed as chlorophyll breaks down—become easier to see. Table of contents Why leaves are green […]
How deep is Lake Michigan? Lake Michigan reaches a maximum recorded depth of 923 feet (281 meters). Its average depth is about 279 feet (85 meters). The deepest water is in the northern part of the lake, in the Chippewa Basin. Explore more source-backed questions in our Nature section. How Deep Is Lake Michigan at […]
What is a cumulus cloud? It is a puffy cloud with a flat base and rounded top, formed when warm air rises and water vapor condenses. Table of contents How cumulus clouds form What they look like Do they bring rain? When cumulus becomes a storm cloud Short answer A cumulus cloud is a bright, […]
What is a cirrus cloud? It is a high, thin, wispy cloud made mostly of ice crystals. Table of contents Where cirrus clouds form What weather they signal How to identify them How they differ from other clouds Short answer A cirrus cloud is a thin, wispy cloud found high in the sky. It is […]
Table of contents What is a stratus cloud? How to recognize one How stratus clouds form What weather they bring How they differ from other clouds What is a stratus cloud? A stratus cloud is a low, flat, gray or white layer that spreads across much of the sky. It looks like a smooth blanket […]
Table of contents What clouds are made of Why clouds float Main cloud types How clouds change What are clouds? Clouds are visible masses of microscopic liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or a mixture of both suspended in the atmosphere. They appear when air becomes cool enough for invisible water vapor to change phase and collect […]
How do clouds form? Clouds begin when moist air rises, cools, and changes invisible water vapor into tiny droplets or ice crystals. Table of contents How air cools How condensation starts How clouds grow Why clouds look different How do clouds form? A cloud develops when moisture-laden air is lifted and cools as it expands. […]
What is the difference between fog and clouds? The key difference is location: fog is a cloud that forms at or very near the ground, while ordinary clouds float above the surface. Both form when moist air cools enough for water vapor to condense into tiny droplets or ice crystals. Table of contents How clouds […]
Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder? Lightning happens first, but we see it before we hear thunder because light travels much faster than sound. The flash reaches your eyes almost immediately, while the sound wave needs time to move through the air. Table of contents Light and sound travel at different speeds […]
What causes lightning? Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that happens when electrical charges build up inside a thunderstorm and then discharge through the air. The flash may travel within one cloud, between clouds, or from a cloud to the ground. Table of contents What happens inside a storm? How do charges separate? How […]