Posted on Aug 11, 2021
APOD: 2021 August 11 - Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan
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Good morning, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan." This image was captured after a thunderstorm in 2012. Thermal differences between cloud temperature, updrafts, and downdrafts are all thought to play a role in the formation of mammatus clouds.
As updrafts carry precipitation enriched air towards a cloud top, upward momentum is lost and the air begins to spread out horizontally. This gives cumulonimbus clouds their characteristic 'anvil' shape. Because of its high concentration of precipitation particles (ice crystals and water droplets), the saturated air is heavier than the surrounding air and sinks back towards the Earth. The subsiding air warms as it descends. However, since heat energy is required to melt and evaporate the ice and water contained within the sinking air, the warming produced by the sinking motion is quickly used as ice melts and water evaporates. If energy is still required for full evaporation, the sinking air will be cooler than its surroundings and will continue to sink downward. The subsiding air eventually appears below the cloud base as mammatus clouds.
Associated convective turbulence is one reason flight rules often warn aviators away from cumulonimbus (anvil-shaped) formations accompanied by mammatus clouds. Like many things, however, they do have their own symmetry and beauty when they can be viewed at a safe distance.
As updrafts carry precipitation enriched air towards a cloud top, upward momentum is lost and the air begins to spread out horizontally. This gives cumulonimbus clouds their characteristic 'anvil' shape. Because of its high concentration of precipitation particles (ice crystals and water droplets), the saturated air is heavier than the surrounding air and sinks back towards the Earth. The subsiding air warms as it descends. However, since heat energy is required to melt and evaporate the ice and water contained within the sinking air, the warming produced by the sinking motion is quickly used as ice melts and water evaporates. If energy is still required for full evaporation, the sinking air will be cooler than its surroundings and will continue to sink downward. The subsiding air eventually appears below the cloud base as mammatus clouds.
Associated convective turbulence is one reason flight rules often warn aviators away from cumulonimbus (anvil-shaped) formations accompanied by mammatus clouds. Like many things, however, they do have their own symmetry and beauty when they can be viewed at a safe distance.
![](https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/659/436/shared_link/Mammatus_Johnston_960.jpg?1628680862)
APOD: 2021 August 11 - Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
Edited 3 y ago
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U2 Numb - Early Morning Mammatus Clouds
this video was taken just before sunrise in Las Vegas Nevada, the name given to these strange Omanis clouds is Mammatus. the song is called Numb from the ban...
Thank you my space-exploration advocate friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for Wednesday, August 11, 2021 entitled "Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan."
Image: Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan Image Credit & Copyright Michael F Johnston
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 here, lasting only a few minutes, were photographed over Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, just after a storm in 2012.
U2 Numb - Early Morning Mammatus Clouds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkTLpQ99FTA
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Samuel Kermon A1C Riley SandersGySgt Thomas Vick CPL Douglas ChryslerGySgt Jack Wallace1SG Steven Imerman MSgt James Clark-Rosa SGT (Join to see)CPO Arthur Weinberger SMSgt Mark Venzeio A1C Riley Sanders
Image: Mammatus Clouds over Saskatchewan Image Credit & Copyright Michael F Johnston
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 here, lasting only a few minutes, were photographed over Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, just after a storm in 2012.
U2 Numb - Early Morning Mammatus Clouds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkTLpQ99FTA
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Samuel Kermon A1C Riley SandersGySgt Thomas Vick CPL Douglas ChryslerGySgt Jack Wallace1SG Steven Imerman MSgt James Clark-Rosa SGT (Join to see)CPO Arthur Weinberger SMSgt Mark Venzeio A1C Riley Sanders
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LTC Stephen F.
3 y
CLOUDS - Zach Sobiech (live performance)
Zach Sobiech, an 18-year old suffering from osteosarcoma, performs his hit single "Clouds" with Vicci Martinez, Kevin Bowe, and many other artists to a sold ...
Zach Sobiech, an 18-year old suffering from osteosarcoma, performs his hit single "Clouds" with Vicci Martinez, Kevin Bowe, and many other artists to a sold out show at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on February 16th, 2013. Zach Sobiech passed away May 20, 2013.
CLOUDS - Zach Sobiech (live performance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPpsoXQ9ia8
FYI SSG Michael Noll SFC (Join to see)SGT Denny EspinosaSP5 Dennis LobergerLinda LawrenceMSgt James Clark-RosaSMSgt Mark VenezioMGySgt (Join to see)SFC Ralph E KelleySSG Robert WebsterSGT Randell RoseCSM (Join to see)SSG Paul Headlee SGT James Murphy ~1457031:SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson]SGM Gerald Fife Sgt Jim Belanus SGM Bill Frazer SPC Woody Bullard CPT (Join to see)
CLOUDS - Zach Sobiech (live performance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPpsoXQ9ia8
FYI SSG Michael Noll SFC (Join to see)SGT Denny EspinosaSP5 Dennis LobergerLinda LawrenceMSgt James Clark-RosaSMSgt Mark VenezioMGySgt (Join to see)SFC Ralph E KelleySSG Robert WebsterSGT Randell RoseCSM (Join to see)SSG Paul Headlee SGT James Murphy ~1457031:SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson]SGM Gerald Fife Sgt Jim Belanus SGM Bill Frazer SPC Woody Bullard CPT (Join to see)
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
3 y
LTC Stephen F. Great group and great song. Thank you for the entertainment Sir.
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Posted 3 y ago
Mother Nature displays are the coolest. Morning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
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