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the cloud height, measured above sea level, ranging from 0 to 20 km; the cloud IR emissivity, with values between 0 and 1, with a global average around 0.7; the effective cloud amount, the cloud amount weighted by the cloud IR emissivity, with a global average of 0.5; the cloud (visible) optical depth varies within a range of 4 and 10.
Cumulus clouds are clouds that have flat bases and are often described as puffy, cotton-like, or fluffy in appearance. Their name derives from the Latin cumulus, meaning "heap" or "pile". [1] Cumulus clouds are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in altitude unless they are the more vertical cumulus congestus form. Cumulus ...
Cumulus congestus or towering cumulus clouds are a species of cumulus that can be based in the low- to middle-height ranges. They achieve considerable vertical development in areas of deep, moist convection. They are an intermediate stage between cumulus mediocris and cumulonimbus, sometimes producing rainshowers, snow, or ice pellets. [2]
Cumulonimbus can form alone, in clusters, or along squall lines. These clouds are capable of producing lightning and other dangerous severe weather, such as tornadoes, hazardous winds, and large hailstones. Cumulonimbus progress from overdeveloped cumulus congestus clouds and may further develop as part of a supercell.
Clouds that have low densities, such as cirrus clouds, contain very little water, thus resulting in relatively low liquid water content values of around .03 g/m 3.Clouds that have high densities, like cumulonimbus clouds, have much higher liquid water content values that are around 1-3 g/m 3, as more liquid is present in the same amount of space.
Cumulus clouds significantly impact energy and water vapor transport and influence precipitation and climate. In large-scale models, cumulus clouds need to be parameterized. The entrainment rate is a key parameter in cumulus parameterization. Henry Stommel was the first to study the entrainment rate in cumulus clouds. [4]
Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds formed by quickly generated ground heat; including forest fires, volcanic eruptions and low level nuclear detonation. Accepted as a WMO genitus cloud with the Latin name flammagenitus , or homogenitus in the case of small cumulus formed by contained human activity.
Low-level clouds, including MBL clouds, have the largest net radiative forcing of all clouds. [1] The albedo of these low level clouds is much higher than the albedo of the underlying ocean surface and correctly modeling these clouds is needed to limit the uncertainty in climate model predictions. The remote sensing of the planetary boundary ...