C_L1 Small cumulus

Click the small image for full size version.

Gallery
© C.S. Broomfield	© C.S. Broomfield
© R.K. Pilsbury	© C.S. Broomfield
© G.A. Watt	© T. Rigg

Cumulus formation is often preceded by hazy spots out of which the clouds evolve (top left photograph). The clouds in their early stages of formation are depicted in the photograph at top right. When completely formed, the clouds have clear cut horizontal bases and flattened or slightly rounded tops (centre photographs). At this stage of development they are known as fair weather cumulus. In the photograph at bottom left the clouds have been frayed by a fairly strong, turbulent wind.

Over land, on clear mornings, cumulus may form as the sun rapidly heats the ground, or may result from the transformation of stratus C_L6. Near coasts, cumulus may form over the land by day in a sea breeze and over the sea during the night in a land breeze.

Cumulus in the last stages of dissipation, (bottom right) is also coded as C_L=1. If at least one of the cumulus clouds present in the sky shows moderate or strong vertical development, the code C_L=2 is used.

Classification
Description: Cumulus with little vertical extent and seemingly flattened, or ragged Cumulus other than of bad weather.	Designation: CL=1 (C8)
	Latin name: Cumulus humilis (Cu hum)

Related pages: Cloud classification | C_L guide | C_M guide | C_H guide | Cloud index