Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Mammatus Clouds over Nebraska

NASA ^ | April 15, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

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.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Jorn Olsen Photography]

[SunkenCiv]

Oh, no, a terrestrial shot... ;')

The Big One

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[lucky american]

Crullers in the sky. Making me hungry.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Don’t get you started on Milky Way.

[saganite]

I have seen those type clouds in OKC. Very dramatic.

[left that other site]

My first thought as well.

Could be the nomenclature.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Boob clouds.

[Craftmore]

Look like Bubbles?Must be a typo,Look like Boobies to me,thus the name,,or didnt the author understand what the name refered to?

[SunkenCiv]

maybe it isn't one or the other...

[SunkenCiv]

Starburst is a major mind game...

[left that other site]

Yep...my thoughts exactly.

[KoRn]

zzzZZZzz

(nice pic, just not APOD worthy IMO)

[TheOldLady]

When we lived in Southern California, there was a display like that one evening at sunset.

The entire sky was was a dappled, bright, sky-blue pink.

It was gorgeous. Haven’t seen anything like it since.

[elcid1970]

I had read that type of cloud referred to as `mammatocumulus’ and which was soon followed by a tornado funnel cloud. See one, expect the other.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In a weather spotter class, our instructor designated these as “boob clouds,” which signal a major temperature change happening overhead.

[elcid1970]

Hmm....temperature inversions cause all kinds of weird weather.

[PistolPaknMama]

Looks like God’s beard. :)

[TheOldLady]

I like that! You’re right.

I pack also.

[slimjim12]

It's a Man Ray kind of sky....

[SunkenCiv]

:’)