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| | Im Sherita and was born on 3 July 1973. My hobbies are Art collecting and Rock collecting.<br><br>my site - [http://www.coupongift.org/stores/seopressor seopressor Black Friday Coupon] |
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| [[Image:GoldenMedows.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Small ''cumulus humilis'' clouds floating over a field]]
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| '''Cumulus clouds''' are a genus-type of low-level [[cloud]] that can have noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. ''Cumulo-'' means "heap" or "pile" in [[Latin]].<ref name="CRH-NOAA" /> They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like" in appearance, and generally have flat bases. Cumulus clouds, being low-stage clouds, are generally less than {{convert|2000|m|ft}} in altitude unless they are the more vertical ''cumulus congestus'' form. Cumulus clouds may appear by themselves, in lines, or in clusters.
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| Cumulus clouds are often precursors of other types of cloud, such as [[cumulonimbus]], when influenced by weather factors such as [[atmospheric instability|instability]], moisture, and temperature gradient. Normally, cumulus clouds produce little or no precipitation, but they can grow into the precipitation-bearing congestus or cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulus clouds can be formed from water vapor, supercooled water droplets, or ice crystals, depending upon the ambient temperature. They come in many distinct subforms, and generally cool the earth by reflecting the incoming solar radiation. Cumulus clouds are part of the larger category of free-convective ''cumuliform clouds'', which include [[cumulonimbus cloud]]s. The latter genus-type is sometimes categorized separately as ''cumulonimbiform'' due to its more complex structure that often includes a cirriform or anvil top.<ref name="LANDSAT identification">{{cite web | url = http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=E7610277 | title=The identification of cloud types in LANDSAT MSS images | author=Barrett,E.C.; Grant,C.K. | year=1976 | accessdate=2012-08-22 | publisher = [[NASA]]}}</ref> There are also cumuliform clouds of limited convection that comprise [[stratocumulus cloud]]s (low-étage), [[altocumulus cloud]]s (middle-étage) and [[cirrocumulus cloud]]s (high-étage).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap08/cumuliform.html|title=Cumuliform Clouds: Some Examples|last=Geerts|first=B|month=April|year=2000|work=Resources in Atmospheric Sciences|publisher=University of Wyoming College of Atmospheric Sciences|accessdate=11 February 2013}}</ref> These latter genus types
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| == Formation ==
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| [[File:Bubbles in the Sky.ogv|thumb|right|300px|Cumulus clouds forming over the [[Congo River basin]]]]
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| Cumulus clouds form via [[atmospheric convection]] as air warmed by the surface begins to rise. As the air rises, the temperature drops (following the [[lapse rate]]), causing the [[relative humidity]] (RH) to rise. If convection reaches a certain level the RH reaches one hundred percent, and the "wet-adiabatic" phase begins. At this point a positive feedback ensues: since the RH is above 100%, water vapour condenses, releasing [[latent heat]], warming the air and spurring further convection.
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| In this phase, water vapor condenses on various nuclei present in the air, forming the cloud. This creates the characteristic flat-bottomed puffy shape associated with cumulus clouds.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/wcumulus.htm|publisher=[[USA Today]]|work=Weather|title=Cumulus clouds|accessdate=16 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Stommel91">{{harvnb|Stommel|1947|p=91}}</ref> The size of the cloud depends on the temperature profile of the atmosphere and the presence of any [[Inversion (meteorology)|inversions]].<ref name="Mossop632-634">{{harvnb|Mossop|Hallett|1974|pp=632–634}}</ref> During the convection, surrounding air is [[Entrainment (meteorology)|entrained]] (mixed) with the thermal and the total mass of the ascending air increases.<ref name="Langmuir175" />
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| Rain forms in a cumulus cloud via a [[Cloud physics|process]] involving two non-discrete stages. The first stage occurs after the droplets coalesce onto the various nuclei. Langmuir writes that surface tension in the water droplets provides a slightly higher pressure on the droplet, raising the [[vapor pressure]] by a small amount. The increased pressure results in those droplets evaporating and the resulting water vapor condensing on the larger droplets. Due to the extremely small size of the evaporating water droplets, this process becomes largely meaningless after the larger droplets have grown to around 20 to 30 [[micrometre]]s, and the second stage takes over.<ref name="Langmuir175">{{harvnb|Langmuir|1948|p=175}}</ref> In the accretion phase, the raindrop begins to fall, and other droplets collide and combine with it to increase the size of the raindrop. Langmuir was able to develop a formula<ref name="formula" group="note">The formula was <math>t={18\eta \over Egwr_0}</math>, with <math>t</math> being the time to infinite radius, <math>\eta</math> being the viscosity of air, <math>E</math> being the fractional percentage of water droplets accreted per unit volume of air that the drop falls through, <math>w</math> being the concentration of water in the cloud in grams per cubic meter, and <math>r_0</math> being the initial radius of the droplet.</ref> which predicted that the droplet radius would grow unboundedly within a discrete time period.<ref name="Langmuir177">{{harvnb|Langmuir|1948|p=177}}</ref>
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| == Description ==
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| [[File:Cumulus clouds14 - NOAA.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cumulus clouds seen from above]]
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| The liquid water density within a cumulus cloud has been found to change with height above the cloud base rather than being approximately constant throughout the cloud. At the cloud base, the concentration was 0 grams of liquid water per kilogram of air. As altitude increased, the concentration rapidly increased to the maximum concentration near the middle of the cloud. The maximum concentration was found to be anything up to 1.25 grams of water per kilogram of air. The concentration slowly dropped off as altitude increased to the height of the top of the cloud, where it immediately dropped to zero again.<ref name="Stommel94">{{harvnb|Stommel|1947|p=94}}</ref>
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| Cumulus clouds can form in lines stretching over {{convert|480|km|mi}} long called cloud streets. These cloud streets cover vast areas and may be broken or continuous. They form when [[wind shear]] causes horizontal circulation in the atmosphere, producing the long, tubular cloud streets.<ref name="Weston433">{{harvnb|Weston|1980|p=433}}</ref> They generally form during [[anticyclone|high-pressure systems]], such as after a cold front.<ref name="Weston437-438">{{harvnb|Weston|1980|pp=437–438}}</ref>
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| [[File:Cumulusmediocrissweden.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Some ''cumulus mediocris'' clouds]]
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| The height at which the cloud forms depends on the amount of moisture in the thermal that forms the cloud. Humid air will generally result in a lower cloud base. In [[Temperateness|temperate]] areas, the base of the cumulus clouds is usually below {{convert|550|m|ft}} above ground level, but it can range up to {{convert|2400|m|ft}} in altitude. In arid and mountainous areas, the cloud base can be in excess of {{convert|6100|m|ft}}.<ref name="nws-jetstream" />
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| Cumulus clouds can be composed of [[ice crystal]]s, water droplets, [[supercooled water]] droplets, or a mixture of them.<ref name="CRH-NOAA">{{cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=cloud_classification|title=Cloud Classification and Characteristics|accessdate=18 October 2012|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]}}</ref> The water droplets form when water vapor condenses on the nuclei, and they may then coalesce into larger and larger droplets. In temperate regions, the cloud bases studied ranged from {{convert|500|to|1500|m|ft}} above ground level. These clouds were normally above {{convert|25|C|F}}, and the concentration of droplets ranged from 23 to 1300 droplets per cubic centimeter (380 to 21,300 droplets per cubic inch). This data was taken from growing isolated cumulus clouds that were not precipitating.<ref name="Warner1049">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1049}}</ref> The droplets were very small, ranging down to around 5 [[Micrometer (unit)|micrometers]] in diameter. Although smaller droplets may have been present, the measurements were not sensitive enough to detect them.<ref name="Warner1051">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1051}}</ref> The smallest droplets were found in the lower portions of the clouds, with the percentage of large droplets (around 20 to 30 micrometers) rising dramatically in the upper regions of the cloud. The droplet size distribution was slightly [[bimodal]] in nature, with peaks at the small and large droplet sizes and a slight trough in the intermediate size range. The [[skewness|skew]] was roughly neutral.<ref name="Warner1052">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1052}}</ref> Furthermore, large droplet size is roughly inversely proportional to the droplet concentration per unit volume of air.<ref name="Warner1054">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1054}}</ref> In places, cumulus clouds can have "holes" where there are no water droplets. These can occur when winds tear the cloud and incorporate the environmental air or when strong downdrafts evaporate the water.<ref name="Warner1056">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1056}}</ref><ref name="Warner1058">{{harvnb|Warner|1969|p=1058}}</ref>
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| === Subforms ===
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| [[File:Cumulus congestus pileus.JPG|thumb|left|200px|''Cumulus congestus pileus'' clouds]]
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| Cumulus clouds come in four distinct species, ''cumulis humilis'', ''mediocris'', ''congestus'', and ''fractus''. These species may be arranged into the variety, ''cumulus radiatus''; and may be accompanied by up to seven supplementary features, ''cumulus pileus'', ''velum'', ''virga'', ''praecipitatio'', ''arcus'', ''pannus'', and ''tuba''.<ref name="WMO"/><ref name="Pretor-Pinney17">{{harvnb|Pretor-Pinney|2007|p=17}}</ref>
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| The species ''Cumulus fractus'' is ragged in appearance and can form in clear air as a precursor to cumulus humilis and larger cumulus species-types; or it can form in precipitation as the supplementary feature ''pannus'' (also called [[Scud (cloud)|scud]]) which can also include stratus fractus of bad weather.<ref>{{cite web|title=L7 Clouds: Stratus fractus (StFra) and/or Cumulus fractus (CuFra) bad weather|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/l7.htm|work=JetStream - Online School for Weather: Cloud Classifications|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=11 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|editor-first=Michael|editor-last=Allaby|encyclopedia=A Dictionary of Ecology|title=Pannus|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199567669.001.0001/acref-9780199567669-e-4082|accessdate=11 February 2013|edition=4|year=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199567669}}</ref> ''Cumulus humilis'' clouds look like puffy, flattened shapes. ''Cumulus mediocris'' clouds look similar, except that they have some vertical development. ''Cumulus congestus'' clouds have a cauliflower-like structure and tower high into the atmosphere, hence their alternate name "towering cumulus".<ref name="TWC" /> The variety ''Cumulus radiatus'' forms in radial bands called cloud streets and can comprise any of the four species of cumulus.<ref name="Pretor-Pinney20">{{harvnb|Pretor-Pinney|2007|p=20}}</ref>
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| Cumulus supplementary features are most commonly seen with the species congestus. ''Cumulus virga'' clouds are cumulus clouds producing [[virga]] (precipitation that evaporates while aloft), and ''cumulus praecipitatio'' produce precipitation that reaches the Earth's surface.<ref name="Dunlop77-78">{{harvnb|Dunlop|2003|pp=77–78}}</ref> ''Cumulus pannus'' comprise shredded clouds that normally appear beneath the parent cumulus cloud during precipitation. ''Cumulus arcus'' clouds have a [[gust front]],<ref name="Ludlum473">{{harvnb|Ludlum|2000|p=473}}</ref> and ''cumulus tuba'' clouds have [[funnel clouds]] or [[tornado]]es.<ref name="Dunlop79">{{harvnb|Dunlop|2003|p=79}}</ref> ''Cumulus pileus'' clouds refer to cumulus clouds that have grown so rapidly as to force the formation of [[Pileus (meteorology)|pileus]] over the top of the cloud.<ref name="GarretI">{{harvnb|Garret, et al.|2006|page=i}}</ref> ''Cumulus velum'' clouds have an ice crystal veil over the growing top of the cloud.<ref name="WMO">{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatheranswer.com/public/Clouds_WMO.pdf|format=[[PDF]]|accessdate=18 October 2012|title=WMO classification of clouds|publisher=World Meteorological Organization}}</ref>
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| == Forecast ==
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| [[File:Anvil of Cumulonimbus and Cu con.JPG|thumb|right|200px|''Cumulus congestus'' clouds compared against a cumulonimbus cloud in the background]]
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| [[Cumulus humilis]] clouds usually indicate fair weather.<ref name="TWC">{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/glossary/c.html|title=Weather Glossary|publisher=The Weather Channel|accessdate=18 October 2012}}</ref> Cumulus mediocris clouds are similar, except that they have some vertical development, which implies that they can grow into [[cumulus congestus]] or even [[cumulonimbus cloud]]s, which can produce heavy rain, lightning, severe winds, hail, and even [[tornado]]es.<ref name="USA Today" /><ref name="TWC" /><ref name="WeatherThompson">{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Philip|coauthors=Robert O'Brien|title=Weather|publisher=Time Inc.|location=New York|year=1965|pages=86–87}}</ref> [[Cumulus congestus]] clouds, which appear as towers, will often grow into [[cumulonimbus]] storm clouds. They can produce precipitation.<ref name="TWC" /> [[Glider aircraft|Glider]] pilots often pay close attention to cumulus clouds, as they can be indicators of rising air drafts or [[thermal]]s underneath that can suck the plane high into the sky—a phenomenon known as [[cloud suck]].<ref name="Pagen-105-108">{{harvnb|Pagen|2001|pp=105–108}}</ref>
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| Cumulus clouds can also produce [[acid rain]] or possibly a tornado. The acidity is largely formed by the oxidation of [[sulfur dioxide]], the most plentiful acidifying gas, into [[sulfate]] ions. The main oxidizing compounds are [[hydrogen peroxide]] and [[ozone]]. Various [[nitrogen oxide]]s can also react with [[hydroxide]] ions to form acids.<ref name="Junge 227">{{harvnb|Junge|1960|p=227}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Cho|Iribarne|Niewiadomski|1989|p=12907}}</ref>
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| == Effects on climate ==
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| Due to reflectivity, clouds cool the earth by around 12°C (22°F), an effect largely caused by stratocumulus clouds. However, at the same time, they heat the earth by around 7°C (13°F) by reflecting emitted radiation, an effect largely caused by [[cirrus cloud]]s. This averages out to a net loss of 5°C (9°F).<ref name="cloud-heating">{{cite web|url=http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov/role.html|title=Cloud Climatology|work=International Satellite Cloud Climatology Program|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|accessdate=12 July 2011}}</ref> Cumulus clouds, on the other hand, have a variable effect on heating the earth's surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/clouds/question.jsp|publisher=National Science Foundation|title=Will Clouds Speed or Slow Global Warming?|accessdate=23 October 2012}}</ref> The more vertical ''cumulus congestus'' species and cumulonimbus genus of clouds grow high into the atmosphere, carrying moisture with them, which can lead to the formation of cirrus clouds. The researchers speculated that this might even produce a positive feedback, where the increasing upper atmospheric moisture further warms the earth, resulting in an increasing number of ''cumulus congestus'' clouds carrying more moisture into the upper atmosphere.<ref name="Nature384">{{harvnb|Del Genfo|Lacis|Ruedy|1991|p=384}}</ref>
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| == Relation to other clouds ==
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| Cumulus clouds are a genus of free-convective low-étage cloud along with the related limited-convective cumuliform or stratocumuliform cloud stratocumulus. These clouds form from ground level to {{convert|2000|m|ft}} at all latitudes. Stratus clouds are also low-étage. In the middle étage are the alto clouds, which consist of the limiited-convective cumuliform or stratocumuliform cloud altocumulus and the stratiform cloud altostratus. Middle-étage clouds form from {{convert|2000|m|ft}} to {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in polar areas, {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in temperate areas, and {{convert|7600|m|ft}} in tropical areas. The high-étage clouds are all cirriform, one of which, cirrocumulus, is also cumuliform of limited convection or stratocumuliform. The other clouds in this étage are cirrus and cirrostratus. High-étage clouds form {{convert|3000|to|7600|m|ft}} in high latitudes, {{convert|5000|to|12000|m|ft}} in temperate latitudes, and {{convert|6100|to|18000|m|ft}} in low, tropical latitudes.<ref name="nws-jetstream" /> Cumulonimbus clouds, like cumulus congestus, extend vertically rather than remaining confined to one étage.<ref name="cumulonimbus-incus">{{cite web|url=http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2009/08/cumulonimbus-incus.html|title=Cumulonimbus Incus|date=5 August 2009|publisher=Universities Space Research Association|accessdate=23 October 2012}}</ref>
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| === Cirrocumulus clouds ===
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| [[File:Cirrocumulus in Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|left|250px|alt=A large field of cirrocumulus clouds in a blue sky, beginning to merge near the upper left.|A large field of cirrocumulus clouds]]
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| {{main|Cirrocumulus cloud}}
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| Cirrocumulus clouds form in patches<ref name="YDN-364">{{harvnb|Miyazaki|Yoshida|Dobashi|Nishita|2001|p=364}}</ref> and cannot cast shadows. They commonly appear in regular, rippling patterns<ref name="H&H-340">{{harvnb|Hubbard|Hubbard|2000|p=340}}</ref> or in rows of clouds with clear areas between.<ref name="cloud-classification">{{cite web|last=Funk|first=Ted|title=Cloud Classifications and Characteristics|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/cloudchart.pdf|work=The Science Corner|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|accessdate=19 October 2012|format=PDF|page=1}}</ref> Cirrocumulus are, like other members of the cumuliform and stratocumuliform categories, formed via [[convection|convective]] processes.<ref name="parungo-251">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=251}}</ref> Significant growth of these patches indicates high-altitude instability and can signal the approach of poorer weather.<ref name="common-clouds"/><ref name="audubon-448"/> The ice crystals in the bottoms of cirrocumulus clouds tend to be in the form of hexagonal cylinders. They are not solid, but instead tend to have stepped funnels coming in from the ends. Towards the top of the cloud, these crystals have a tendency to clump together.<ref name="parungo-252">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=252}}</ref> These clouds do not last long, and they tend to change into cirrus because as the water vapor continues to deposit on the ice crystals, they eventually begin to fall, destroying the upward convection. The cloud then dissipates into cirrus.<ref name="parungo-254">{{harvnb|Parungo|1995|p=254}}</ref> Cirrocumulus clouds come in four species which are common to all three genus-types that have limited-convective or stratocumuliform characteristics: ''stratiformis'', ''lenticularis'', ''castellanus'', and ''floccus''.<ref name="common-clouds">{{cite web|title=Common Cloud Names, Shapes, and Altitudes|format=PDF|publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology|url=http://nenes.eas.gatech.edu/Cloud/Clouds.pdf|accessdate=12 February 2011|pages=2, 10–13}}</ref> They are [[iridescence|iridescent]] when the constituent supercooled water droplets are all about the same size.<ref name="audubon-448">{{harvnb|Ludlum|2000|p=448}}</ref>
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| === Altocumulus clouds ===
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| {{main|Altocumulus cloud}}
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| Altocumulus clouds are a middle-étage cloud that forms from {{convert|2000|m|ft}} high to {{convert|4000|m|ft}} in polar areas, {{convert|7000|m|ft}} in temperate areas, and {{convert|7600|m|ft}} in tropical areas.<ref name="nws-jetstream">{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/synoptic/clouds_max.htm|title=Cloud Classifications|publisher=National Weather Service|work=JetStream|accessdate=23 October 2012}}</ref> They can have precipitation and are commonly composed of a mixture of ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, and water droplets in temperate latitudes. However, the liquid water concentration was almost always significantly greater than the concentration of ice crystals, and the maximum concentration of liquid water tended to be at the top of the cloud while the ice concentrated itself at the bottom.<ref name="Carey2490">{{harvnb|Carey et al|2008|p=2490}}</ref><ref name="Carey2491">{{harvnb|Carey et al|2008|p=2491}}</ref> The ice crystals in the base of the altocumulus clouds and in the virga were found to be dendrites or conglomerations of dendrites while needles and plates resided more towards the top.<ref name="Carey2491" /> Altocumulus clouds can form via convection or via the forced uplift caused by a [[warm front]].<ref name="Carey2494">{{harvnb|Carey et al|2008|p=2494}}</ref> Because Altocumulus is a genus-type of limited convection, it is divided into the same four species as cirrocumulus.
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| === Stratocumulus clouds ===
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| {{main|Stratocumulus cloud}}
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| A stratocumulus cloud is another type of a cumuliform or stratocumuliform cloud. Like cumulus clouds, they form at low levels<ref name="cloud-classification" /> and via convection. However, unlike cumulus clouds, their growth is almost completely retarded by a strong [[Inversion (meteorology)|inversion]]. As a result, they flatten out like stratus clouds, giving them a layered appearance. These clouds are extremely common, covering on average around twenty-three percent of the earth's oceans and twelve percent of the earth's continents. They are less common in tropical areas and commonly form after [[cold front]]s. Additionally, stratocumulus clouds reflect a large amount of the incoming sunlight, producing a net cooling effect.<ref name="Wood2374">{{harvnb|Wood|2012|p=2374}}</ref> Stratocumulus clouds can produce [[drizzle]], which stabilizes the cloud by warming it and reducing turbulent mixing.<ref name="Wood2398">{{harvnb|Wood|2012|p=2398}}</ref> Being a cloud of limited convection, stratocumulus is divided into three species; stratiformis, lenticularis, and castellanus, that are common to the higher stratocumuliform genus-types.
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| === Cumulonimbus clouds ===
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| {{main|Cumulonimbus cloud}}
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| Cumulonimbus clouds are the final form of growing cumulus clouds. They form when ''cumulus congestus'' clouds develop a strong [[updraft]] that propels their tops higher and higher into the atmosphere until they reach the [[tropopause]] at {{convert|18000|m|ft}} in altitude. Cumulonimbus clouds, commonly called thunderheads, can produce high winds, torrential rain, lightning, gust fronts, [[waterspout]]s, [[funnel cloud]]s, and tornadoes. They commonly have [[anvil cloud]]s.<ref name="TWC" /><ref name="cumulonimbus-incus" /><ref name="Ludlum471">{{harvnb|Ludlum|2000|p=471}}</ref>
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| == Extraterrestrial ==
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| Some cumuliform clouds have been discovered on most other planets in the solar system. On [[Mars]], the [[Viking Orbiter]] detected cirrocumulus and stratocumulus clouds forming via convection primarily near the polar icecaps.<ref name="Mars-clouds">{{cite web|url=http://history.nasa.gov/SP-441/ch12.htm|title=NASA SP-441: Viking Orbiter Views of Mars|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|accessdate=26 January 2013}}</ref> The [[Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo space probe]] detected massive cumulonimbus clouds near the [[Great Red Spot]] on [[Jupiter]].<ref name="Jupiter-clouds">{{cite web|url=http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/pia00506|title=Thunderheads on Jupiter|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|work=Jet Propulsion Laboratory|accessdate=26 January 2013}}</ref> Cumuliform clouds have also been detected on [[Saturn]]. In 2008, the [[Cassini spacecraft]] determined that cumulus clouds near Saturn's south pole were part of a cyclone over {{convert|4000|km|mi}} in diameter.<ref name="Saturn-clouds">{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081014-saturn-cyclones.html|title=Mysterious Cyclones Seen at Both of Saturn's Poles|last=Minard|first=Anne|date=14 October 2008|newspaper=National Geographic News|publisher=National Geographic|accessdate=26 January 2013}}</ref> The [[Keck Observatory]] detected whitish cumulus clouds on [[Uranus]].<ref name="Uranus-clouds">{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-10/most-richly-detailed-image-ever-taken-icy-distant-uranus|title=Check Out The Most Richly Detailed Image Ever Taken Of Uranus|publisher=Popular Science|last=Boyle|first=Rebecca|date=18 October 2012|accessdate=26 January 2013}}</ref> Like Uranus, [[Neptune]] has methane cumulus clouds.<ref name="Irwin-115">{{harvnb|Irwin|2003|p=115}}</ref> Venus, however, does not appear to have cumulus clouds.<ref name="Bougher-127-129">{{harvnb|Bougher|Phillips|1997|pp=127–129}}</ref>
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| == See also ==
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| {{Portal|Weather}}
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| *[[List of cloud types]]
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| {{clear}}
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| == Notes ==
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| {{reflist|group=note}}
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| == References ==
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| ;Footnotes
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| {{reflist|2}}
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| ;Bibliography
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| *{{cite book|last1=Bougher|first1=Stephen Wesley|last2=Phillips|first2=Roger|title=Venus II: Geology, Geophysics, Atmosphere, and Solar Wind Environment|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=b93lEgkPquoC&pg=PA128|year=1997|month=December|publisher=University of Arizona Press|isbn=978-0-8165-1830-2|ref=CITEREFBougherPhillips1997|accessdate=26 January 2013}}
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| *{{cite journal|author=Carey, Lawrence D.; Niu, Jianguo; Yang, Ping; Kankiewicz, J. Adam; Larson, Vincent E.; Haar, Thomas H. Vonder|year=2008|month=September|journal=Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology|title=The Vertical Profile of Liquid and Ice Water Content in Midlatitude Mixed-Phase Altocumulus Clouds|volume=47|issue=9|doi=10.1175/2008JAMC1885.1|accessdate=23 October 2012|pages=2487–2495|ref=CITEREFCarey_et_al2008}}
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| *{{cite journal|last1=Cho|first1=H. R.|last2=Iribarne|first2=J. V.|last3=Niewiadomski|first3=M.|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research|date=20 September 1989|title=A Model of the Effect of Cumulus Clouds on the Redistribution and Transformation of Pollutants|url=http://www.grims-model.org/front/bbs/paper/mps-2/MPS_1989-3_Cho_et_al.pdf|format=[[PDF]]|volume=94|number=D10|pages=12,895–12,910|accessdate=28 November 2012}}
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| *{{cite journal|last1=Del Genfo|first1=Anthony D.|last2=Lacis|first2=Andrew A.|last3=Ruedy|first3=Reto A.|title=Simulations of the effect of a warmer climate on atmospheric humidity|publisher=Nature Publishing Group|journal=Nature|volume=351|pages=382–385|doi=10.1038/351382a0|date=30 May 1991|ref=CITEREFDel_GenfoLacisRuedy1991}}
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| *{{cite book|last=Dunlop|first=Storm|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=BR2ft4G5TgQC|title=The Weather Identification Handbook|month=June|year=2003|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-1585748570|ref=CITEREFDunlop2003|accessdate=15 February 2013}}
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| == External links ==
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| {{commons category|Cumulus clouds}}
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| * [http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=cumulus1 AMS Glossary of Meteorology]
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| * [http://www.webiocosm.com/timelapse/timelapsevideos/wheatfield/wheatfields.htm Time-lapse of the formation of Cumulus clouds]
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| {{Cloud types}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Cumulus Cloud}}
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| [[Category:Cumulus]]
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