Clouds of the Day - Thursday, July 13, 2020 - Caldron of Cumulus

Summer brings warm humid days and cumulus clouds. Today has been good example. The day started with a clear sky but by 9:30 cumulus clouds began to form. The air mass was humid and as the Sun heated the earth it warmed the air above which began rising. Cloud bases form at the condensation level.

When water vapor condenses it releases heat. The heat is called “latent” because it is stored with the vapor when water evaporates. Heat is required to evaporate water. So when the vapor condenses into water droplets or ice crystals the heat is released into the air. Condensation adds heat to the air - the heat that was needed evaporated the water was released back into the air when it condensed back into cloud droplets.

The evaporation into invisible water vapor, its movement with the wind, and condensation back to water or ice is a key component of the water cycle and global temperature regulation. As water vapor moves with the air the heat is transported without it changing the temperature of the air. The heat is “latent,” and therefore does not change the temperature of the air until it condenses.

Backlit cumulus.

Cumulus congestus

The same Cumulus congestus as above but a few minutes later

Cumulus cloud bases - where condensation occurs

Cumulus mediocris

Cumulus with Cirrus above

Cumulus with Cirrus in the background

Cumulus with Cirrus, Cirrus spissatus, and Cirrus spissatus with ice crystal streamers above

Cumulus with Cirrus and Cirrostratus above