how are they formed ?
They are formed via atmospheric convection as air warmed by the surface begins to rise
Cumulus cloud
Cumulus clouds form via atmospheric convection as air warmed by the surface begins to rise.
why does the height of the cumulus cloud base change Due to weather factors such as instability, moisture, and temperature gradient what are cumulus clouds ? They are clouds which have flat bases and are often described as "puffy", "cotton-like" or "fluffy" in appearance
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Cumulus cloud [SEP] Formation
Cumulus clouds form via atmospheric convection as air warmed by the surface begins to rise. As the air rises, the temperature drops (following the lapse rate), causing the relative humidity (RH) to rise. If convection reaches a certain level the RH reaches one hundred percent, and the "wet-adiabatic" phase begins. At this point a positive feedback ensues: since the RH is above 100%, water vapor condenses, releasing latent heat, warming the air and spurring further convection. In this phase, water vapor condenses on various nuclei present in the air, forming the cumulus cloud. This creates the characteristic flat-bottomed puffy shape associated with cumulus clouds.