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Cumulonimbus (from Latin cumulus 'swell' and nimbus 'cloud') is a dense, towering, vertical cloud, [1] typically forming from water vapor condensing in the lower troposphere that builds upward carried by powerful buoyant air currents.
Cumulonimbus cauda is a type of cumulonimbus cloud, cauda is derived from Latin, meaning "tail", this cloud type may appear as a defined horizontal cloud band or as horizontally aligned cloud tags attached to the cumulonimbus murus cloud type, [1] it is linked with an inflow of warm, moist air and that the thunderstorm the cloud has appeared in is strong, well organized and indicates that ...
Cumulonimbus mamma (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – Cb with pouch-like protrusions that hang from under anvil or cloud base. Cumulonimbus pannus (WMO genus and accessory cloud) – shredded sections attached to main Cb cloud. Cumulonimbus pileus (WMO genus and accessory cloud) – capped, hood-shaped cloud above a cumulonimbus cloud.
Towering vertical clouds have the greatest ability to produce intense precipitation events, but these tend to be localized unless organized along fast-moving cold fronts. Showers of moderate to heavy intensity can fall from cumulus congestus clouds. Cumulonimbus, the largest of all cloud genera, has the capacity to produce very heavy showers.
Cumulus congestus clouds compared against a cumulonimbus cloud in the background. Due to reflectivity, clouds cool the earth by around 12 °C (22 °F), an effect largely caused by stratocumulus clouds. However, at the same time, they heat the earth by around 7 °C (13 °F) by reflecting emitted radiation, an effect largely caused by cirrus clouds.
A cumulonimbus capillatus is a cumulonimbus cloud with dense cirrus clouds above it, making the cloud top appear to contain hair-like structures. The name comes from the Latin word capillatus, meaning "with hair". [1] It is an intermediate stage between cumulonimbus calvus and cumulonimbus incus.
A cumulonimbus incus (from Latin incus 'anvil'), also called an anvil cloud, is a cumulonimbus cloud that has reached the level of stratospheric stability and has formed the characteristic flat, anvil-shaped top. [1] It signifies a thunderstorm in its mature stage, succeeding the cumulonimbus calvus stage. [2]
Also actiniform. Describing a collection of low-lying, radially structured clouds with distinct shapes (resembling leaves or wheels in satellite imagery), and typically organized in extensive mesoscale fields over marine environments. They are closely related to and sometimes considered a variant of stratocumulus clouds. actinometer A scientific instrument used to measure the heating power of ...