<p>I recently came across a science writer's page according to which clouds are liquid water. I pointed out to this author that in reality clouds are made up of a dispersion of water micro-droplets in a gas and therefore are aerosols from the physical-chemistry point of view. I received a rather abrupt answer and therefore I wonder if slightly different definitions apply in the field of meteorology than in physical-chemistry. So my question is: how is defined the state of a cloud in meteorology, is it a liquid or an aerosol?</p>
<p>quoting Wikipedia:</p>
<p>&quot;An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas&quot;.</p>
<p>&quot;A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a nearly constant volume independent of pressure&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-03T03:35:58.577Z
Looks like fog is often termed an aerosol, so that would well support your thinking.
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-03T17:34:46.737Z
If they are made of liquid droplets then would marking it as an aerosol not simply be *more specific*? Although, to be honest, I'm pretty sure that ice also exists inside of clouds so in that case "aerosols" would also be more correct.
Maarten Bodewes
<meteorology><clouds><aerosol>
Are clouds aerosol?
gryphys
# Are clouds aerosol?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-11-29)

I recently came across a science writer's page according to which clouds are liquid water. I pointed out to this author that in reality clouds are made up of a dispersion of water micro-droplets in a gas and therefore are aerosols from the physical-chemistry point of view. I received a rather abrupt answer and therefore I wonder if slightly different definitions apply in the field of meteorology than in physical-chemistry. So my question is: how is defined the state of a cloud in meteorology, is it a liquid or an aerosol?

quoting Wikipedia:

"An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas".

"A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a nearly constant volume independent of pressure".

**Tags:** meteorology, clouds, aerosol

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Looks like fog is often termed an aerosol, so that would well support your thinking.  
> **username_2**: If they are made of liquid droplets then would marking it as an aerosol not simply be *more specific*? Although, to be honest, I'm pretty sure that ice also exists inside of clouds so in that case "aerosols" would also be more correct.  

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## 0 answers

