© Jan Knight
Serra de Alvorge, Portugal
Latitude: 39° 59' 5'' N
Longitude: 8° 27' 58'' W
18 September 2012 1635 (Local Time)
Image P/S code: P.9.16
Image I.D.: 4654
CL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0
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Cumulus congestus flammagenitus
This picture, taken from Serra de Alvorge in Portugal, shows a Cumulus congestus generated as a result of rising thermals from a wildfire. It is therefore classified as Cumulus congestus flammagenitus.
Light, north-westerly, low-level winds caused smoke from the wildfire to drift slowly to the south-east and some smoke also rose vertically into the lower atmosphere. However, the atmosphere was deeply unstable above about 2 300 m and the convective plume rose quickly to considerable height, resulting in the formation of a tower of Cumulus congestus flammagenitus.
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© Jan KnightSerra de Alvorge, PortugalLatitude: 39° 59' 5'' NLongitude: 8° 27' 58'' W18 September 2012 1635 (Local Time)CL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0Image P/S code: P.9.16Image I.D.: 4654
Cumulus congestus flammagenitus
A Cumulus congestus flammagenitus cloud is seen in this picture above a low-level layer of smoke. The cloud formed as a direct result of the convection of air above a wildfire.
The wildfire, located near Potamissa in the Limassol District of Cyprus, was approximately 20 km away from where the picture was taken near the village of Kivides. The base of the cloud is partially obscured by smoke rising directly from the fire and by a layer of smoke spreading in the lower atmosphere. Other Cumulus clouds of natural origin, on the right of the picture, are partially hidden by smoke.
The Cumulus flammagenitus cloud is identified as the species congestus by its relatively large extent, the resemblance of its bulging upper part to a cauliflower and the towers sprouting from the cloud top. Observation over time showed that these towers rose from the main body of the cloud only to dissipate in the dry atmosphere above.
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© George AndersonKivides, CyprusLatitude: 34° 45' 41'' NLongitude: 32° 50' 41'' E06 August 2007 1708 (Local Time)Camera direction: towards NNECL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0Image P/S code: S.9.16 4Image I.D.: 4834
Cumulus congestus flammagenitus
This cloud is Cumulus congestus flammagenitus, formed by the largest forest fire in history in Sweden.
The term flammagenitus refers to the cloud originating as a consequence of convective currents rising from the heat of a wildfire. The species is identified as congestus by its relatively large extent and bulging upper parts that resemble a cauliflower (1 and 2).
The cloud appears dark, in part because the cloud droplets are mixed with particulate matter resulting from combustion, and in part because the Sun is behind it. Note the crepuscular rays (3 and 4) across much of the sky, rendered visible by smoke haze in the atmosphere. The rays diverge from the position of the Sun behind the cloud.
The cloud is being blown away from the heat source by a moderate south-easterly breeze.
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© Hans ÖstlundAvesta SV, SwedenLatitude: 60° 5' 46'' NLongitude: 16° 18' 8'' E04 August 2014 1728 (Local Time)Camera direction: towards SWCL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0Image P/S code: S.9.16 1Image I.D.: 4963
Cumulus congestus pileus flammagenitus
This picture, taken towards the south from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, shows Cumulus flammagenitus, generated as a result of rising thermals from a wildfire. The top of the cloud displays strong sproutings with sharp outlines and indicates the species congestus. Furthermore, the rising thermals have penetrated an elevated moist layer of air, generating a pileus accessory cloud. South-westerly low-level winds have caused a plume of smoke from the wildfire to drift to the north-east, obscuring the base of the Cumulus from the observer. The sky is otherwise largely clear with only a few Cumulus humilis clouds.
The accompanying time-lapse video shows the development of the various features seen in this photograph.
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© Irene HoVancouver, CanadaLatitude: 49° 16' 58'' NLongitude: 123° 7' 15'' W03 July 2016 1508 (Local Time)Camera direction: towards SCL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0Image P/S code: S.9.16 3Image I.D.: 5033
Cumulus flammagenitus
Smoke originating from a gorse fire to the north (right side of the image) can be seen blowing towards the left. The heat produced by the fire was sufficient to induce the development of a Cumulus, which can be seen above the smoke layer. The Cumulus is transitioning from humilis into mediocris at 3 and 4, as indicated by the sproutings.
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© Frank Le BlancqJersey Airport, St Peter, JerseyLatitude: 49° 12' 24'' NLongitude: 2° 11' 52'' W10 September 2009 1557 (Local Time)Camera direction: towards WNWCL = 2, CM = 0, CH = 0Image P/S code: S.9.16 2Image I.D.: 5082
Cloud fromed by volcanic eruption
(NB. Hour of day not specified therefore estimated)
This huge convective cloud, caused by an eruption from a small volcanic island, is composed of a mixture of dust or grains of different sizes and of water drops thrown up by or condensing in the cooling column. The dark band at 1 is probably a "rain" of volcanic ash (dust or grains).
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© C.E. StehnAnak Krahatau, Strait of Sunda, IndonesiaLatitude: 6° 6' 8'' SLongitude: 105° 25' 23'' E01 May 1933 1200 (Local Time)CL = /, CM = /, CH = /