Is it the clouds or the earth?

Question

when I look out my window the clouds move (duh)

But is it the clouds that move.. or is it the earth rotating making it look like the clouds are moving?

Answer 1

When you are sitting still (relative to the ground), and see clouds moving, they really are moving.  The atmosphere tends to move with the Earth as a whole, which is convenient for us; we don't have hundreds-of-mile-per-hour winds at the surface from the rotation of the Earth!

The movement of air around the Earth, however, is not static; it varies with altitude, solar heating, and a variety of other factors more suited to a meteorologist.  But, from a big-picture perspective, the Earth turns, taking the atmosphere with it.  The clouds, being subject to meteorological effects, "move" with the wind and changing pressure of air masses.

Answer 2

Both the earth and the clouds move. Ever seen a sky time lapse? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh9pw7J7r...

Answer 3

The clouds are moving.  They are being carried along by wind currents.

In general, the atmosphere is too dynamic and in complex motion to allow for a cloud to sit still while the Earth rotated underneath.

Answer 4

Both are moving.

As the Earth rotates, the clouds are pushed by the wind

Answer 5

clouds CHANGE direction.

the earths rotation does not

Answer 6

Wind moves the clouds. Although the earth spins, the clouds and everything inside the earth spins with it. It wouldn't be plausible if the clouds (SOMETHING INSIDE EARTHS ATMOSPHERE) didn't move, but the earth sorrounding it did.

Answer 7

both... the wind still moves the clouds