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knjoshipura
May 5, 2012, 12:19 AM
What is approximately the temperature of the rain cloud?

I am asking this because someone asked me another question; why do the rain drops NOT get warm as they pass through air while falling? The reason I think is two-fold. (I) the initial temperature of the drop while leaving the cloud is low enough (-is it true? How much?). (ii) The rain drops usually achieve terminal speeds ~ 10m/s, and are not falling fast enough to become warm.
Please answer both these (related) questions. I am Physics teacher and hence a student. Thanks
... KNJoshipura...

Chic_Bowdrie
May 5, 2012, 11:49 PM
Clouds can be a wide range of temperatures depending on how they form, but usually 0 to 15 deg C. If rain drops don't warm as they fall through warmer air below, it is probably because some of the drop evaporates and that keeps the drop cool.