Rain Clouds

[Tilly2]

What makes them black? Pollution?

[Hopkirk]

I think it that when they are really thick, less sunlight can get through.

It is more of a grey though, I would say.

[heathfield]

Not quite black, but very dark. And dark because the sunlight can't pass through all the water droplets in the clouds.

[berniecuddles]

The high density and thickness of rain clouds cause them to appear black because it doesn't allow much of the light to pass through. Being full of water vapour and raindrops at lower altitudes, a more of the light is reflected back into space or sideways because there are more obstacles.

[rsvp]

Storm clouds are black because the clouds are so dense no light can make it through. The different colors of clouds are created by refracted light as it passes through the clouds. Clouds are made up of large collections of tiny droplets of water and crystallized water molecules. Because of the size of the water droplets, they essentially scatter wavelengths of light uniformly. When looking at the light reflected from a cloud, the cloud looks white. However, when you look upwards into a cloud, the cloud will look darker on the bottom because the light is scattered in all directions.
(copied and pasted from the google answer to 'why are thunderclouds black)

[Tilly2]

Thank you all. Now I know. :-)

Mr Tilly asked me the question and I wasn't sure of the answer. Now, he'll think I'm a Smart Alec.
Thanks again.

[gness]

Good answers unless you are my mother.....Look up, Gness...black clouds...the storm's coming...God's angry with you...what have you done?
Honestly....the things black clouds made me confess to!

[Tilly2]

I didn't think to google it, rsvp. I could have saved you all the trouble.

[Tilly2]

Ypu must have seen a lot of black clouds in Ireland, gness. You must have been a bag of nerves!

[rsvp]

It was no trouble at all Tilly2 - found it interesting.

[Tilly2]

Yes, it is interesting, rsvp.

When trying to answer Mr Tilly, I waffled on about the light scattering but it didn't sound convincing so I suggested pollution as a possibility.
He thinks I know everything

[rsvp]

Then do nothing to change this opinion Tilly2.

[Psybbo]

but you do

[Tilly2]

Mistressmind, that's me, sibs!