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Cumulus cloud
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{{short description|Genus of clouds, low-level cloud}} {{redirect|Cumulus}} {{Good article}} {{Infobox cloud type | name = Cumulus | image location = GoldenMedows.jpg | image name = Small ''cumulus humilis'' clouds that can have noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. | abbreviation = Cu | symbol = Clouds CL 1.svg | genus = Cumulus (heap) | species = * [[fractus cloud|Fractus]] * [[cumulus humilis cloud|Humilis]] * [[cumulus mediocris cloud|Mediocris]] * [[cumulus congestus cloud|Congestus]] | variety = * Radiatuse | altitude_m = 200{{ndash}}2,000 | altitude_ft = 1,000{{ndash}}6,600 | level = low | appearance = Low-altitude, fluffy heaps of clouds with cotton-like appearance. | precipitation = Uncommon [[rain]], [[snow]], or [[graupel|snow pellets]] | thinkness = | ice content = }} '''Cumulus clouds''' are [[cloud]]s that have flat [[cloud base|bases]] and are often described as puffy, cotton-like, or fluffy in appearance. Their name derives from the [[Latin]] {{wikt-lang|la|cumulus}}, meaning "heap" or "pile".<ref name="CRH-NOAA" /> Cumulus clouds are low-level clouds, generally less than {{cvt|2000|m|ft}} in [[altitude]] unless they are the more vertical [[cumulus congestus]] form. Cumulus clouds may appear by themselves, in lines, or in clusters. Cumulus clouds are often precursors of other types of clouds, such as [[cumulonimbus cloud|cumulonimbus]], when influenced by weather factors such as [[atmospheric instability|instability]], [[humidity]], and [[temperature gradient]]. Normally, cumulus clouds produce little or no precipitation, but they can grow into the precipitation-bearing cumulus congestus or cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulus clouds can be formed from [[water vapour]], [[supercooling|supercooled]] water droplets, or [[ice crystals]], depending upon the [[ambient temperature]]. They come in many distinct subforms and generally cool the earth by reflecting the incoming [[solar irradiance|solar radiation]]. Cumulus clouds are part of the larger category of free-convective cumuliform clouds, which include cumulonimbus clouds. The latter genus-type is sometimes categorized separately as [[list of cloud types|cumulonimbiform]] due to its more complex structure that often includes a cirriform or [[anvil]] top.<ref name="LANDSAT identification">{{cite web |last1=Barrett|first1=E. C. |last2=Grant|first2=C. K. |year=1976 |title=The identification of cloud types in LANDSAT MSS images |url=http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=E7610277 |publisher=[[NASA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000819/http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=E7610277 |archive-date=2013-10-05 |access-date=2012-08-22}}</ref> There are also cumuliform clouds of limited convection that comprise [[stratocumulus]] (low-[[wikt:étage|étage]]), [[altocumulus]] (middle-étage) and [[cirrocumulus]] (high-étage).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap08/cumuliform.html |title=Cumuliform Clouds: Some Examples |last=Geerts|first=B. |date=April 2000 |work=Resources in Atmospheric Sciences |publisher=[[University of Wyoming]] College of Atmospheric Sciences |access-date=2013-02-11}}</ref> These last three genus-types are sometimes classified separately as stratocumuliform.<ref name="LANDSAT identification"/>
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