Cumulus cloud
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available.(March 2007) |
| Puffy cumulus illuminated by late afternoon sun far below a NOAA P-3 returning to base after a mission. | |
| Abbreviation | Cu |
|---|---|
| Genus | Cumul (heap) |
| Altitude | Below 2,000 m (Below 6,500 ft) |
| Classification | Family C (Low-level) |
| Appearance | Fluffy, white piles |
| Precipitation Cloud? | Depends. Cumulus humilis and mediocris, most likely no, but congestus, sometimes yes. Cumulonimbus, yes, but may be virga. |
Cumulus clouds usually have a puffy, cotton ball-like appearance, with noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. They can be found alone, in lines, or in clusters. Factors like instability, moisture, and temperature gradient, make cumulus clouds precursors of many other types of clouds, e.g cumulonimbus clouds.
Rain falls, often in grey streaks below the cloud, or in a dramatic arch of black cloud spreading out from the parent cloud. These large, precipitating cumulus clouds can extend through multiple levels of the atmosphere and are called cumulonimbus clouds.
Over the sea, cumulus clouds are normally found in regularly spaced lines. The best examples of these lines are found in the trade winds where they extend for many miles. These lines create a pattern in the vertical movement of air, causing it to roll horizontally. Between the lines of cloud are stronger, more gusty, and slightly veering winds; but beneath the lines of cloud, somewhat lighter and more backing winds prevail.
[edit] External links
| Clouds
| |
|---|---|
| High Clouds (Family A): | Cirrus (Ci) • Cirrus uncinus • Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz colombia • Cirrostratus (Cs) • Cirrocumulus (Cc) • Pileus • Contrail |
| Middle Clouds (Family B): | Altostratus (As) • Altostratus undulatus • Altocumulus (Ac) • Altocumulus undulatus • Altocumulus mackerel sky • Altocumulus castellanus • Altocumulus lenticularis |
| Low Clouds (Family C): | Stratus (St) • Nimbostratus (Ns) • Cumulus humilis (Cu) • Cumulus mediocris (Cu) • Stratocumulus (Sc) |
| Vertical Clouds (Family D): | Cumulonimbus (Cb) • Cumulonimbus incus • Cumulonimbus calvus • Cumulonimbus with mammatus • Cumulus congestus • Cumulus castellanus • Pyrocumulus • Pyrocumulonimbus |
| Weather Portal |
-Cumulus means heap or a pile in Latin. They are usually formed when warm, moist air is forced upward.
ca:Cumulus cs:Cumulus co:Cumulu da:Cumulus de:Cumulus el:Σωρείτες es:Cúmulus fr:Cumulus (nuage) gl:Cumulus id:Awan Kumulus it:Cumulo (nube) he:קומולוס hu:Gomolyfelhő nl:Cumulus ja:積雲 no:Cumulus nn:Cumulus pl:Cumulus pt:Cumulus ru:Российские межбанковские ставки sk:Kumulus sl:Kumulus fi:Kumpupilvi sv:Cumulus vi:Mây tích uk:Купчаста хмара
