A typical cumulus cloud weighs about 500,000 kilograms (approximately 1.1 million pounds or 551 US tons). This weight is roughly comparable to the mass of 100 adult elephants. Despite this heavy weight, clouds can float because the air below them is even heavier and the water droplets in the cloud are spread out and small enough to be suspended in the air.
How is the weight calculated?
- The density of water in a typical cumulus cloud is about 0.5 grams per cubic meter.
- These clouds are roughly 1 kilometer wide, tall, and deep, giving a volume of about 1 billion cubic meters.
- Multiplying the density by the volume gives about 500 million grams or 500,000 kilograms, which is the weight of the water in the cloud.
Why do clouds float?
- Clouds float because the air around and below the cloud is denser than the cloud itself.
- The water droplets in clouds are extremely small and spread out, so gravity's pull on them is negligible, allowing them to stay suspended.
Summary
A typical cloud weighs around 500,000 kg (551 US tons), but appears light and fluffy because it is less dense than the surrounding air and its water droplets are spread thinly enough to float.
