Pouches in the sky: Mammatus clouds spark global interest
Explainer on clouds, with recent relevance due to Mammatus clouds spotted over Russia
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Advertisement
In news: Mammatus clouds over Russia
Unusual Mammatus clouds — pouch-like bulges hanging underneath the base of clouds — were seen over Russia, catching global attention. Typically associated with severe thunderstorms, these clouds form on the underside of cumulonimbus clouds and are indicative of strong atmospheric turbulence, making them a useful visual cue for aviation and meteorology.
What are clouds?
Clouds are suspended masses of minute water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere, formed when air becomes saturated and water vapour condenses around aerosols.
How are clouds formed?
Clouds form through the following steps:
- Uplift of air (due to heating, mountains, fronts or convergence)
- Adiabatic cooling (temperature drops as air rises and pressure decreases)
- Condensation when the air reaches the dew point (requires condensation nuclei)
- Aggregation of condensed water droplets to form visible cloud masses
Factors that define the shape of clouds
Several physical factors govern cloud shapes:
Factor | Influence |
Altitude | High clouds are thin; low clouds are denser and layered |
Temperature | Affects ice or water droplet formation |
Humidity | Determines size and density of the cloud |
Wind patterns | Horizontal vs vertical growth |
Atmospheric Stability | Unstable air leads to vertical (cumulus) clouds; stable air leads to horizontal (stratus) clouds |
Topography | Mountains can induce specific types like lenticular clouds |
Rain-bearing vs non-rain-bearing clouds
Type | Description | Examples |
Rain-bearing clouds | Dense, thick clouds capable of precipitation | Nimbostratus, Cumulonimbus |
Non-rain-bearing clouds | Thin, wispy or layered clouds with minimal water content | Cirrus, Altostratus, Stratocumulus |
Classification of clouds
Based on altitude
Level | Cloud types |
High (Above 6,000 m) | Cirrus (Ci), Cirrostratus (Cs), Cirrocumulus (Cc) |
Middle (2,000-6,000 m) | Altostratus (As), Altocumulus (Ac) |
Low (Surface to 2,000 m) | Stratus (St), Stratocumulus (Sc), Nimbostratus (Ns) |
Vertical Development | Cumulus (Cu), Cumulonimbus (Cb) |
Based on shape
Shape | Cloud type |
Layered | Stratus-type (flat, sheet-like) |
Heap/Convectional | Cumulus-type (puffy, rising) |
Wispy | Cirrus-type (feathery, high-altitude ice clouds) |
Towering | Cumulonimbus (storm clouds, vertical extent) |
Summary of key cloud types
Cloud | Appearance | Altitude | Precipitation | Note |
Cirrus | Wispy, thin | High | No | Made of ice crystals |
Cumulus | Puffy, cotton-like | Low to mid | No/light rain | Fair-weather cloud |
Stratus | Flat, uniform layer | Low | Light drizzle | Fog-like when near surface |
Nimbostratus | Thick, dark | Low to mid | Continuous rain | Covers large area |
Cumulonimbus | Towering, anvil-top | Vertical | Heavy rain, thunder | Severe weather cloud |
Mammatus | Pouch-like bulges under base | Below thunderclouds | No direct rain | Associated with turbulence |
UPSC mains relevance – GS Paper I & III(geography, disaster management)
- Atmospheric phenomena
- Climatic classification and cloud formation
- Link with weather patterns and extreme events
- Application in aviation, meteorology, disaster forecasting
Sample UPSC questions
Short questions (prelims & basics)
- Which type of cloud is associated with thunderstorms and severe weather?
- Name any two high-level clouds.
- Define “Mammatus clouds”.
Long questions (mains)
- Explain the mechanism of cloud formation and the role of condensation nuclei.
- Differentiate between rain-bearing and non-rain-bearing clouds with examples.
- Discuss how different factors influence the shape and type of clouds in various atmospheric layers.
Analytical questions
- “Clouds are indicators of climate and weather conditions.” Explain with reference to classification based on height and shape.
- How can observation of specific cloud types (like cumulonimbus or mammatus) help in disaster forecasting?
- With recent examples, analyse how cloud types are linked with extreme weather events globally.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement