What makes cumulus clouds

Lightning, thunder, and even violent tornadoes are associated with the cumulonimbus. Here are some examples of cumulonimbus clouds:. Back to Cloud Types. Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton. What weather is associated with cumulus clouds? How do we categorise cumulus clouds? Cumulus clouds have four main categorisations or 'species': Cumulus humilis - these are wider than they are tall, often numerous in the sky and indicate fair weather conditions Cumulus mediocris - these are as wide as they are tall and are usually seen amongst a variety of other cumulus variations Cumulus congestus - these are taller than they are wide, looking like long chimneys capable of producing light showers Cumulus fractus - these are the broken remnants of cumulus clouds that are breaking up or 'dissipating.

You might also like. Altocumulus clouds are generally associated with settled weather and will normally appear white or grey with shading. Read more. Weather fronts mark the boundary or transition zone between two air masses and have an important impact upon the weather. These pockets of air linger in the clouds and give them their pillow-like appearance. As the air of the thermal rises, the thermal starts to shed layers and become smaller.

This continues until it is gone. Water vapor is the first physical state of the H2O molecule as it cycles through the cumulus cloud. When a water molecule is in a vapor state, it is light enough to rise into the atmosphere on warm air currents. Three main factors precipitate the initial rise of these water vapor particles. The first, a process known as convection, is when cold air sinks and warm air rises; the cycle lifts water vapor into the air.

The second is when the topography of the Earth that the air containing the water vapor moves over increases in altitude; the water vapor can be forced up higher into the atmosphere. The third is when a cooler air mass meets a warmer one -- the warmer air is forced up into the atmosphere along with the water vapor it is carrying.

Warmer air is able to hold more water vapor molecules than cooler air. As the water vapor reaches cooler air, it reaches the saturation point. At the saturation point, the temperature is reached where the water vapor changes into visible water droplets. This visible water molecule is a type of condensation that takes place in the atmosphere. When the water reaches this visible stage, the cloud begins to become visible to the naked eye.

If water droplets combine, they can get too heavy to stay aloft in the atmosphere. This is when rain and other precipitation is formed.