Why are cumulous clouds flat at the bottom?

Nerull · 06-22-2004, 11:02 PM

I was just wondering about that. I looked up cloud formation on the web, and I found out exactly how they are formed. However, nowhere that I could find states why cumulous clouds are flat at the bottom. It is just a point of curiousity, and all the more so since I put the time in researching it just to come up empty. If anyone has the answer to that question it would be greatly appreciated.

Stormymystic · 06-22-2004, 11:17 PM

IIRC it has to do with the pressure system, but can not be sure...been to long since science classes

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...0/wea00041.htm
this will give you the answer

[ 06-22-2004, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: Stormymystic ]

Firestormalpha · 06-22-2004, 11:22 PM

Maybe the air current beneath it? Which as Stormy stated would be caused by the differences air pressure. Hmmm I may just go look in the encyclopedia on clouds.

Jorath Calar · 06-23-2004, 02:31 AM

hehe

[edit fixed link (Stupid fortunecity)]
edit again, works if you do a "save target"

[ 06-23-2004, 03:29 AM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

GokuZool · 06-23-2004, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jorath Calar:
hehe

Ho-ho - bad link. [img]graemlins/troutslap.gif[/img]

Har'oloth · 06-23-2004, 07:02 AM

because they are round at the top!!!

Arvon · 06-23-2004, 07:13 AM

Because that's the altitude where the humidity goes to 100%.

Nerull · 06-23-2004, 07:41 AM

Thanks for the replies (especially your link Stormy; I read through that site but missed that one...). I couldn't get Jorath's link to work, though (I'm at the university right now, and it says I do not have the security clearance). I'll check it when I get home tonight.

wellard · 06-24-2004, 09:18 AM

Without knowing the EXACT answer, just to point out they are not perfectly flat at the bottom, they just seem that way from as distance. Flying nearer to them will show that. But like all clouds they suck big time! the pressure below the cloud is very strong and will 'suck' you up into the cloud unless you control your pitch / speed.

Edit for bad spelling..as usual

[ 06-24-2004, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: wellard ]

06-22-2004, 11:02 PM	#1
Nerull Lord Ao Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 53 Posts: 2,069	I was just wondering about that. I looked up cloud formation on the web, and I found out exactly how they are formed. However, nowhere that I could find states why cumulous clouds are flat at the bottom. It is just a point of curiousity, and all the more so since I put the time in researching it just to come up empty. If anyone has the answer to that question it would be greatly appreciated. __________________ [img]\"ubb/noncgi/smiles/new/ghoul.gif\" alt=\" - \" /><br /><br />\"The middle class pays all of the taxes, does all of the work.<br />The lower class exists just to scare the middle class.\"<br />-George Carlin

06-22-2004, 11:17 PM	#2
Stormymystic Knight of the Rose Join Date: April 8, 2003 Location: Arkansas Age: 48 Posts: 4,442	IIRC it has to do with the pressure system, but can not be sure...been to long since science classes http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...0/wea00041.htm this will give you the answer [ 06-22-2004, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: Stormymystic ] __________________ [url]\"http://stormymystic.deviantart.com/gallery/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3968/stormyvx6.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

06-22-2004, 11:22 PM	#3
Firestormalpha Knight of the Rose Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Coral Springs, Fl USA Age: 40 Posts: 4,454	Maybe the air current beneath it? Which as Stormy stated would be caused by the differences air pressure. Hmmm I may just go look in the encyclopedia on clouds. __________________ "When you start with a presupposition, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion." "We are never to judge a philosophy by its abuse." - Augustine "If you're wondering if God has a sense of humor, consider the platypus." http://www.greaterthings.cbglades.com

06-23-2004, 07:02 AM	#6
Har'oloth Manshoon Join Date: September 28, 2001 Location: The Netherlands Age: 39 Posts: 209	because they are round at the top!!! __________________ [img]\"http://www.chemieforum.nl/downloads/siggoed.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br /><br />Nobody can stop the tiger at lunchtime!

06-23-2004, 07:13 AM	#7
Arvon Unicorn Join Date: October 4, 2001 Location: Kingdom of the West,..P.o. Cynagus Posts: 4,212	Because that's the altitude where the humidity goes to 100%. __________________ 53.7% of all statistics are made up

06-23-2004, 02:31 AM	#4
Jorath Calar Harper Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 4,706	hehe [edit fixed link (Stupid fortunecity)] edit again, works if you do a "save target" [ 06-23-2004, 03:29 AM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

06-23-2004, 07:41 AM	#8
Nerull Lord Ao Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 53 Posts: 2,069	Thanks for the replies (especially your link Stormy; I read through that site but missed that one...). I couldn't get Jorath's link to work, though (I'm at the university right now, and it says I do not have the security clearance). I'll check it when I get home tonight. __________________ [img]\"ubb/noncgi/smiles/new/ghoul.gif\" alt=\" - \" /><br /><br />\"The middle class pays all of the taxes, does all of the work.<br />The lower class exists just to scare the middle class.\"<br />-George Carlin

06-24-2004, 09:18 AM	#9
wellard Dracolisk Join Date: November 1, 2002 Location: Australia ..... G\'day! Posts: 6,123	Without knowing the EXACT answer, just to point out they are not perfectly flat at the bottom, they just seem that way from as distance. Flying nearer to them will show that. But like all clouds they suck big time! the pressure below the cloud is very strong and will 'suck' you up into the cloud unless you control your pitch / speed. Edit for bad spelling..as usual [ 06-24-2004, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: wellard ] __________________ fossils - natures way of laughing at creationists for over 3 billion years

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