Cloud Formation

[ossian]

A few miles from where I live there is a mountain range, not a very tall range but in the region of 1900 to 2200 feet. On about 70% of the time, or thereabouts, one of the mountains is capped by a cloud while the others generally aren't. On many occasions the sky is relatively free of clouds elsewhere. What causes this cloud formation? Does the mountain attract clouds or, more likely, does it promote cloud formation?(electrsostatic effects possibly) If so, why do the other mountains in the range not always lead to the same effect? The height differences are not great. The mountain in question has a large flattish top and is absolutely littered with millions of quartzite boulders of all shapes and sizes. Stu

[boxtops]

does this help?

http://www.wisegeek.c...to-attract-clouds.htm

[Clanad]

Could be an Alto-Cumuls Standing Lenticular... usually a mid-level cloud that forms over the tops of mountain ranges... caused by the uplifting of air on the upwind side and dissipation on the downwind side. As the name implies, it stands in one place and doesn't move, building, as stated on one side and dissipating on the other. The lenticular name is applied due to the lens shape of the cloud... thin on each end and thicker in the middle. For aviation, it is usually an indicator of turbulence... here in the western U.S. the turbulence can be quite severe over our western mountains...

[Clanad]

... Cumulus

[ossian]

Thanks all. I think that I need to be more precise in my observations which at the moment could be described as casual, at best. Pollen particles are a good nucleation source for droplet formation so it might be interesting to see if the effect that I see is in any way seasonal. It's the difference between the mountains in the range which surprises me the most. Perhaps there is more pollen etc. produced by the much more massive flat topped mountain. Stu
p.s. Thanks Boxtops for the connection. This site and others which it led me to were very instructive.