Elapsed
0:00
Largest drop
15 µm
Raindrops formed
0
Evaporated (virga)
0
UCM AVIA 2350 · Cloud Microphysics
Every raindrop grows by one of two mechanisms. In warm clouds, big drops simply catch smaller ones as they fall. In cold, mixed-phase clouds, ice crystals steal water vapor from their supercooled neighbors. Press play and watch each pathway build a drop from scratch.