|
Credit & Copyright: Craig Lindsay, Wikipedia
Explanation:
Why is this cloud so bubbly?
Normally, cloud bottoms are flat.
The flatness is caused by moist warm air
that rises and cools and so condenses into water droplets at a specific temperature,
which usually corresponds to a very specific height.
As water
droplets grow, an opaque cloud forms.
Under some conditions, however, cloud pockets can develop that contain large droplets
of water or ice that fall into clear air as they evaporate.
Such pockets may occur in
turbulent air near a
thunderstorm.
Resulting mammatus clouds can appear especially
dramatic
if sunlit from the side.
These
mammatus clouds were photographed over
Regina, Saskatchewan,
Canada
during the summer of 2012.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: clouds
Publications with words: clouds
See also:
- APOD: 2024 November 19 Á Undulatus Clouds over Las Campanas Observatory
- APOD: 2024 July 7 Á Iridescent Clouds over Sweden
- APOD: 2023 August 20 Á A Roll Cloud Over Wisconsin
- APOD: 2023 February 12 Á Mammatus Clouds over Nebraska
- Nacreous Clouds over Lapland
- A Retreating Thunderstorm at Sunset
- A Fire Rainbow over West Virginia