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What kind of cloud is a thunderhead?
Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus (from Latin cumulus, “heaped” and nimbus, “rainstorm”) is a dense, towering vertical cloud, forming from water vapor carried by powerful upward air currents. If observed during a storm, these clouds may be referred to as thunderheads.
What causes a thunderhead cloud?
This cloud formation forms when a front of cool air meets a body of hot, moist air. Thunderheads can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold front in a squall line. They can develop into a supercell thunderstorm, and can spew out high winds, hail, lightening and tornados.
Why do thunderhead clouds look like anvils?
An anvil cloud is made of ice particles; these frozen particles form in the highest levels of thunderstorms or cumulonimbus clouds. The cool shape that you see with the flat top is due to rising air in storms. The air that rises from the anvil is cooler than the air of the stratosphere.
How can you identify a cumulonimbus cloud?
The character of the precipitation may help to distinguish Cumulonimbus from Nimbostratus. If the precipitation is of the showery type, or if it is accompanied by lightning, thunder or hail, the cloud is Cumulonimbus. Certain Cumulonimbus clouds appear nearly identical with Cumulus congestus.
What is the most dangerous cloud?
1. Cumulonimbus. The clouds that comprise these storms, known as cumulonimbus, are in my view the most exciting that Mother Nature has to offer. They’re by far the most interesting – and dangerous – cloud that you can see.
What are the three types of cloud?
Cumulus, Stratus, and Cirrus. There are three main cloud types.
What is the prettiest cloud?
- Lenticularis. Named for their smooth, lentil-like appearance, altocumulus lenticularis clouds (pictured above) are believed to be one of the most common explanations for UFO sightings.
- Nacreous.
- Asperitas.
- Kelvin-Helmholtz wave.
- Supercell storm cloud.
- Mackerel sky.
- Mammatus.
- Virga.
How are Thunderheads formed in a cumulonimbus cloud?
The mature cumulonimbus cloud has a distinctive flat, anvil shaped top which is formed when the their tops encounter high winds, which cause them to spread out sideways. The presence of thunderheads means that severe weather conditions like heavy rains, hail, lightning and thunder are imminent.
How tall does a thunderhead cloud grow to?
They grow vertically instead of horizontally, forming into dense towers that can reach 20,000 feet, though they’ve also been known to go as high as 75,000 feet. (In comparison, cruising altitude for commercial airliners is 30,000 feet.)
What does it mean when there are Thunderheads in the sky?
The presence of thunderheads means that severe weather conditions like heavy rains, hail, lightning and thunder are imminent. So, as stunning as they might be to photograph, they also carry with them a certain amount of risk. Today, we’ve rounded up 25 of the most fantastic images…
How does a cumulus cloud look like in the sky?
If you look at a sky filled with cumulus, you may notice they have flat bases, which all lie at the same level. At this height, air from ground level has cooled to the dew point. Cumulus clouds do not generally rain – you’re in for fine weather.