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How Much Does A Cloud Weigh?

Posted by simoniker on from the fluffy-but-heavy dept.

MyNameIsFred writes "ABC News is running an article revealing unexpected facts about weather formations. Ever wonder how much a cloud weighs? What about a hurricane? A meteorologist has done some estimates and the results might surprise you..." Reports that include the phrase "more than all the elephants on the planet" are always welcome.

3 of 505 comments (clear)

  1. I am not a meteorologist by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Or a physicist, or really a member of any pertinent field, but it seems to me that the last bit, about all the elephants ever, is pretty bogus science.

    "What we're doing is weighing the water in one cubic meter theoretically pulled from a cloud and then multiplying by the number of meters in a whole hurricane," she explains.

    That makes no sense at all. A cloud is very little like a hurricane except that it involves water, air, and differentials of temperature and pressure.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. More accurate methods by StewedSquirrel · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Perhaps a more accurate method would be to extrapolate from the amount of water actually present in a cloud. A "cloud" isn't some well-defined object containing a set density of water. I'm sure a big puffy white one has a LOT less water than a big mean dark one that is the same size.

    Then again, when we're talking about clouds... they're just concentrations of moisture that happen to refract and reflect visible light. The air has moisture everywhere. What exactly is the difference in moisture content between a cloud and a "really wet day" in the jungle?

    I've seen it rain with very little cloud cover... So while we're at it, why not just weigh the air?

    Or we could get around to other even more pointless activities... ANYTHING to get you on /. :-)

    Stewey

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
  3. Re:550 tons by Idarubicin · · Score: 3, Interesting
    550 tons of electrons;
    divided by 9.1E-34 tons per electron;
    divided by 6.02E23 electrons per mole;
    divided by 96485 moles of electrons per amp.second;
    divided by 3600 seconds per hour;
    multiplied by 110 volts distribution;

    Gives 318 kWh in 550 tons of electrons, delivered to your door in North America, or twice as much energy in Europe.

    If you're drawing 400 watts for computer and modem;
    and you wasted fifteen minutes on this story;

    That's only 3200 readers to use up 550 tons of electrons. Of course, since we're using alternating current, those readers had to return the electrons for reuse by other /.ers. :D

    --
    ~Idarubicin