Astronomy Picture of the Day
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Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is
featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2014 April 15
Mammatus Clouds over Nebraska
Image Credit & Copyright:
Jorn Olsen Photography
Explanation:
When do cloud bottoms appear like bubbles?
Normally,
cloud bottoms are flat.
This is because moist warm air
that rises and cools will
condense into water droplets at a specific temperature,
which usually corresponds to a very specific height.
As water
droplets grow, an opaque cloud forms.
Under some conditions, however,
cloud pockets can develop that contain large droplets
of water or
ice that fall into clear air as they evaporate.
Such
pockets may occur in
turbulent
air near a
thunderstorm.
Resulting
mammatus clouds can appear especially
dramatic
if sunlit from the side.
The
mammatus clouds
pictured above were photographed over
Hastings,
Nebraska
during 2004 June.
Tomorrow's picture: open space
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Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(
MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell (
UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman
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