Why are cumulonimbus clouds important?
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Why are cumulonimbus clouds important?
Cumulonimbus clouds also play an important role in the global energetics and the general circulation of the atmosphere by efficiently transporting moisture and sensible and latent heat into the upper portions of the troposphere and lower stratosphere. They also affect the radiative budgets of the troposphere.
How tall can cumulonimbus clouds get?
Cumulonimbus clouds are the kings of all clouds, rising from low altitudes to more than 60,000 feet (20,000 meters) above ground level. They grow due to rising air currents called updrafts, with their tops flattening out into an anvil shape.
How much does a cumulonimbus cloud weigh?
about 1 billion 400 million pounds
Answer: Thus, a ‘typical’ fair weather cumulus cloud “weighs” about 1 billion 400 million pounds, or about 800 million pounds less than dry air of cqual volume. Thats a lot of weight!
How heavy is a cumulonimbus cloud?
1 million tonnes
Cumulonimbus clouds are considerably more dense and much larger. These clouds may weigh 1 million tonnes. It’s like having a herd of elephants floating over your head.
How much water is in a cumulonimbus cloud?
A typical cumulus cloud carries about half-a-gram of water in each cubic metre — that’s the weight of a big garden pea. A big fat dark cumulonimbus cloud could carry up to six times as much water (say, three grams of water per cubic metre).
Can you fly through a cumulonimbus cloud?
Thus, cumulonimbus are known to be extremely dangerous to air traffic, and it is recommended to avoid them as much as possible. Cumulonimbus can be extremely insidious, and an inattentive pilot can end up in a very dangerous situation while flying in apparently very calm air.
Can you fly through cumulonimbus?
Where are cumulonimbus clouds found?
the troposphere
Cumulonimbus clouds form in the lower part of the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of the Earth. This region due to evaporation and the greenhouse effect produces alot of the warm updrafts that make creation of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds possible.
How tall are cumulonimbus clouds?
What are the rarest cloud?
Kelvin Helmholtz Waves are perhaps the rarest cloud formation of all. Rumored to be the inspiration for Van Gogh’s masterpiece “Starry Night”, they are incredibly distinctive. They are mainly associated with cirrus, altocumulus, and stratus clouds over 5,000m.
How fast can cumulonimbus clouds form?
The forces of nature are powerful and the buoyancy forces that create thunderstorms are incredibly strong. During a thunderstorm’s formative stage, updrafts of 40 mph (or faster) are at work lifting air to condensation and allowing cumulus clouds to grow to heights of 50,000 feet in just 15 or 20 minutes.
What is the rarest cloud type?
