Cumulus Clouds and Thunderstorms

puffy, “popcorn-like” clouds
cumulus humilis (humble): * fair weather * small
cumulus congestus (heap): * towering cumulus clouds * heating causes vertical updrafts * air parcels cool as they rise * excess water vapor condenses * latent heat released * causes more updrafts

cumulonimbus: * thunderstorm cloud * very large (tall), thick clouds
thunderstorm = cumulonimbus clouds with lightning and thunder (and commonly rain)
top of cloud is near top of troposphere
base of cloud is near the ground
strong updrafts and downdrafts (turbulent)
looks like a mushroom or an anvil (well-developed) * anvil can be 10s of mile in diameter
if very strong updrafts, then the dome of the cloud overshoots above the anvil
storm energy from temperature and humidity

more commonly occur in: * tropical locations: abundant sunshine (heat) and moisture * late afternoons in the summer: most surface heating
also in regions with convergent winds and/or lifting * mountains * land/sea boundary

need constant inflow of warm, moist air or they die out
most thunderstorms use up fuel (warm, moist air) and choke on their exhaust (cool, dry air)
last only a half hour to an hour