Cumulonimbus

This is the largest of the clouds, with a base that can range from 5km to 25km high. It can be several tens of kilometres wide.

It is very unstable.

The weather is very bad and all types of meteorological phenomena are observed: Hail, Storm, Snow...

They can also give rise to gusty fronts ahead, with currents drawing in the clouds.

You must always go around a cumulonimbus, of at least 10 Nm.

Life Cycle

1. Formation : the cumulonimbus forms from Cumulus humilis, then mediocris, then finally congestus. It is the seat of violent vertical currents, and of the main meteorological phenomena.
2. Maturation: the Precipitations appear, the updrafts become less powerful. Downdrafts appear.
3. Dissipation: there are no more updrafts, only the anvil of ice crystals remains.

Origins

The cumulonimbus can come from different origins:

• Isolated convective currents.
• Mountain side currents.
• Uplift of a frontal surface.

META

Status:: #wiki/notes/mature
Plantations:: Meteorology
References:: Le Manuel de Pilotage d'Avion