What are condensation nuclei?

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What are condensation nuclei?

Condensation nuclei are aerosols that act as the initial sites for condensation of water vapor into cloud droplets or cloud ice particles. Virtually all cloud droplets or ice particles originate around condensation nuclei which "attract" water. Most of the nuclei that help to form cloud clouds are extremely small, 0.0002 to 0.006 millimeters (0.000008 to 0.0002 inches) in diameter. Most condensation nuclei come from the soil, the ocean (sea salt), and the burning of vegetation and fossil fuels. These then get washed out by precipitation, which cleanses the air of them.

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