© Jarmo Koistinen
Espoo, Finland
Latitude: 60° 0' 0'' N
Longitude: 25° 0' 0'' E
04 December 2011 1458 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards E
Image P/S code: S.10.5
Image I.D.: 5698
CL = 9, CM = 0, CH = 0
The image shows a winter sky of air mass showers falling from a Cumulonimbus capillatus incus. In this example. the Cumulonimbus has almost entirely frozen, as evidenced by the fibrous structure extending almost to the base of the cloud. The cirriform fibrous upper part of this cloud cannot be identified as Cirrus spissatus cumulonimbogenitus as it still attached to the mother-cloud Cumulonimbus.
A Cumulonimbus capillatus cell can be seen in the left distance as well.
Patches of Stratocumulus formed from the spreading of parts of Cumulonimbus are also present.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
The sounding, taken one hour earlier and 100 km north-west of the image location, indicates that the fibrous tops of Cumulonimbus can reach a level of approximately 6 000 m.
The NOAA-18 image (a combination of channels 3, 4 and 5), taken 40 minutes before the cloud picture, reveals a small cluster of Cumulonimbus clouds in the middle of the image. The cloud in the later photo is part of the same cluster.
This photo shows a Cumulonimbus capillatus cell with a well-developed symmetrical anvil (supplementary feature incus). The under surface of the incus shows mamma forming. To the left and behind is another, slightly more recent cell. Precipitation is falling from both of these cells at 1 and 2.
On the left edge is another cumuliform cell identified as Cumulus congestus. This cell is just about to transition to Cumulonimbus calvus. More Cumulus in different stages of development can be seen in many areas.
Cumulonimbus are described as "cloud factories" that may produce patches of Cirrrus spissatus, Altocumulus, Altostratus or Stratocumulus.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.