No. The visible material in a cloud consists of tiny water droplets, ice crystals, or both. Water vapor is water in its gaseous state and is invisible.
The World Meteorological Organization defines clouds in terms of liquid water and ice particles suspended in the atmosphere. The Met Office explains that droplets become visible when water vapor condenses.
Water vapor is involved in cloud formation, but it should not be confused with the resulting cloud particles. Saying clouds come from water vapor is different from saying their visible material is still entirely gas.
Clouds make condensed water or ice visible. Water vapor itself cannot be seen.
World Meteorological Organization
The International Cloud Atlas defines a cloud as suspended particles of liquid water, ice, or both, rather than water existing only as gas.
Based on: World Meteorological Organization
Met Office
The Met Office explicitly addresses the misconception that clouds are only water vapor and explains that condensed droplets make clouds visible.
Based on: Met Office
Was this check helpful?
Sign in required
Sign in required
Yes. Researchers observed cell division at 63°C. Recovery after brief exposure to 70°C is a separate result and does not demonstrate reproduction at that temperature.
No. Bats have functional eyes and can see. Their visual abilities vary between species, so limited detail vision should not be confused with blindness.
Yes. Researchers say the insect had been misidentified for decades. Recognising it as a new species does not mean it had never been observed before.