|
Height of base: |
below 600 m (2000
ft) (low-level clouds) |
|
|
Description: |
Heap-like cauliflower tops;
fluffy rounded tops flat bases brilliant white;
base can appear shadowed; |
|
|
Occurrence: |
World-wide,
except |
|
|
Made of: |
water droplets,
supercooled water droplets |
|
|
Precipitation: |
None; cumulus
congestus may precipitate brief showers |
|
|
Formation: |
convection in
instable layer (thermals), capped by stable layer |
|
|
Species: |
Humilis,
mediocris, congestus, fractus |
|
|
Varieties: |
Radiatus |
|
|
How to
distinguish from … |
… Stratocumulus
(Sc) |
Clouds are
detached, not joined into layer |
|
Altocumulus (Ac) |
Wider than three
fingers at stretched arm, 30º above horizon |
|
|
Cumulonimbus (Cb) |
Develops from
congestus Congestus has a
sharp cauliflower outline, no softness from ice crystals |
|
|
Cumulus humilis ( |
Cumulus mediocris ( June 2006) |
Cumulus congestus embedded in
stratocumulus, Altocumulus (Morris, June07) |
|
Cumulus mediocris Morris, May 07 |
Cumulus congestus Glenwood, May 07 |
Cumulus humilis Morris, May06 |
|
Cumulus fractus Morris, May06 |
Cumulus humilis Fountain geyser, Yellowstone
NP, June06 |
Cumulus fractus (Morris, May 2007) |
Last
modified: 1/18/2008
Maintained
by Sylke Boyd