How can a clouds weight be determined?

I don’t think there’s a logical way to weigh a gas. Although, since a cloud can hold rain, a liquid, I would think you can. But, since it’s dispersed throughout the cloud it would be hard to contain the whole cloud and weigh it on some type of scale.

Maybe there’s some scientific way to estimate a clouds weight based on certain factors, but I’m not smart enough to even begin that type of research.

Measure volume using geometric approximations, multiply by density (obtained by direct sample, or perhaps by some optical measurement using refraction, although I’m not sure how that would work), and there you (sort of) have it.

The NOAA estimates that the density of a cloud is about 1.003 kg/m3.

Cloud volumes can now be measured using airborne laser measuring devices. Once the volume is determined, the density can be used to calculate the cloud’s weight

If the cloud is staying at the same altitude (as most do), its weight is zero.
It’s mass, would be (volume x density).

@Zaku Yep.

Gas has density. Density implies mass which, in a gravitational field, has weight. Yes, of course you can weigh a gas!

Clouds are not made of gases; they do not “contain” water. Clouds are water (along with some dust particles). Regardless of how fast the cloud is traveling in the vertical plane, it still has weight. To measure this weight, you would need to know the density of the cloud as well as its physical dimensions.

If we’re going to get precise here, clouds are an aerosol of liquid water suspended in air that is itself saturated with water vapor. In other words, extremely humid air holding tiny water droplets in suspension.

Estimate the size of the cloud in cubic feet or meters or miles or whatever.
Estimate the percentage of the volume that is water.
Calculate the cubic volume of water.
Water weights about 64 pounds per cubic foot.

Its great to think about, but I was just wondering.. what could we do with that information?

@quasi I’m sure some huckster could sell you a more natural lighter cloud that has some obscure health benefits, all for $39.99 plus two free pamphlets on using clouds to keep weight off and to lower cholesterol.

Interestingly many people don’t realize that steam is a transparent gas. Depending on pressure and temperature there’s a maximum amount of water the air can hold. Air is like a sponge, i.e it can ‘suck in’ water but there’s a limit which it is reached when we talk about 100% humidity. In winter when temperatures are lower this limit is reached sooner. So when you exhale the warm mixture that comes out of your lungs consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water and other gases hit the cold air around you and the ‘sponge’ is too small to absorb all the individual water molecules from your lung. This is why it looks like white smoke in winter. The same happens in the atmosphere because higher up the temperatures are cooler and we can see the clouds, droplets of liquid water which is not steam.