Large anvil clouds, Amazon, Brazil Mar 23, 2024

Large anvil clouds, Amazon, Brazil

"When clouds appear like rocks and towers, the Earth"s refreshed with frequent showers"—there"s a whisper of truth to this old proverb for the storm clouds, also known as cumulonimbus or anvil clouds, captured in this celestial portrait. Originating from the Latin words "cumulus" meaning "heaped" and "nimbus" meaning "rainstorm," Cumulonimbus describes a towering cloud that develops vertically due to water vapour condensation, when the lower portion is propelled upward by strong uplifting air currents. These towering behemoths are not just sky-dwellers; they are the architects of thunderstorms and severe weather conditions. A wanderer in the sky, on their collapse, they undergo a transformative two-stage journey downstream. These celestial nomads boast lifetimes of six to twelve hours, while some lasting even longer.

© NASA

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