Towering Clouds

  • Large Congestus Clouds no longer climbing

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    …but holding lots of volume, has stark relief in the afternoon sky. An example of how towering Cumulus hit mid-level altostratus clouds. The dense cauliflower-looking clouds are indicative of stronger convection. This is the process of storm formation, where updrafts are apparent in high humidity.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    12 seconds and 22 frames.

    | | | | | | | |

  • Building thunderclouds firing up congestus

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    The congestus (rising/towering) stage cumulus, rising and stirring convection high.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    5 seconds and 28 frames.

    | | | | | | |

  • Rising heavy clouds above with ninety and more…

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    … percent cloud cover transformations. A rapidly rising storm cloud, the bulk of this ‘turkey tower’ seen soaring high into the sky is unlikely to fall as rain anytime soon, but the storm cell may still prove dangerous later.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    10 seconds and 12 frames.

    | | | |

  • Rain clouds over ocean, typical Cumulonimbus

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    An original, recently remastered time-lapse of the sky with clouds.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    7 seconds and 22 frames.

    | | | |

  • Morning towering cloud reflections on an ocean

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    Morning ‘congestus’ clouds on a body of seawater that is a small bay enclosed by a highway in south Florida on the west coast, near Tampa. This scene takes place early in the day when tropical storms are likely to begin formation depending on humidity and temperature and are not riding on any predominant winds. Over the two large residential buildings, a larger congestus will turn into a rain-making Cumulonimbus later that day. The ocean takes up half the frame. Views in urban areas are limited to available public spaces.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    18 seconds and 11 frames.

    | | | | | |

  • Towering Cumulus congestus growing and moving in blue skies

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    Heat, moisture, and more heat. The Everglades have this in spades. Seen here, the clouds are truly towering in their nature, being taller than they are wide at their base. These updrafts play out as visible clouds and will grow to form rain clouds. Tropical land warming accelerates these clouds around the Everglades, and the warm waters assist in visible absolute humidity.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    9 seconds and 19 frames.

| | | |

  • Upwards blossoming convection, towering noon clouds over ocean

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    An aquamarine ocean in the lower eight frame. Precipitation, rain, is already visibly falling from the distant towering cloud, which grows and is too small of a cell to have it fall back on itself, to perpetuate itself long into the day. A sliver of a tropical beach and landscape are visible in the far-left distance. Other small Cumulus begin their ascent as the clip reaches end.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    11 seconds.

    | | | | | | |

  • 2 of 2 | 8/10 density cloud overtaking POV mid-day, high contrast

    View with alternate video source

    Scene notes:

    The continuation of another clip. The camera’s orientation and position has been adjusted.
    Time-lapse length (30 fps):
    7 seconds and 2 frames.

    | | | | | | |