A Remarkable Cloud Form | Nature

A Remarkable Cloud Form | Nature

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ABSTRACT A PHOTOGRAPH of a remarkable cloud, of which a reproduction is shown in Fig. 1, has been received from Prof. I. S. Astapowitsch, of the Astronomical Institute, Fontanka 34, Leningrad. It was observed some time in 1932 at Stalinabad (lat. 38° 34′ N., long. 68° 47′ E.) above the Hissar Valley, and is described as having a rotational movement. Rotation round a vertical axis is strongly suggested by the appearance in the photograph of the middle and upper parts of the cloud. Students of cloud FIG. 1. forms will recognise at once the very unusual character of this cloud, which has some structural resemblance both to the cumulo-nimbus cloud associated with a thunderstorm and to the funnel cloud of the tornado. By a curious coincidence, in a recent number of the Meteorological Magazine (Nov. 1934, vol. 69, No. 826) a sketch is shown of a cloud observed on October 4, 1934, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, by Mr. Donald L. Champion, which has strong points of resemblance to the cloud just described. In each case a strong upward growth appears to have taken place over one part of a rather flattened cumulus cloud, the base of which was inclined to be convex, the central parts appearing to be lower than those farther from the centre. In the cloud near Waltham Cross the rapid vertical extension was formed in a few seconds, and after about five minutes the mushroom-shaped top spread out horizontally to form an ‘anvil’ cloud like those so often seen over thunder clouds. In both cases it is likely that opposed wind currents and convexion, perhaps associated with local heating, may have combined to produce rapid ascent of air with otation. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Learn more Buy this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE A Remarkable Cloud Form. _Nature_ 135, 62 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/135062a0 Download citation * Issue Date: 12 January 1935 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/135062a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

ABSTRACT A PHOTOGRAPH of a remarkable cloud, of which a reproduction is shown in Fig. 1, has been received from Prof. I. S. Astapowitsch, of the Astronomical Institute, Fontanka 34,


Leningrad. It was observed some time in 1932 at Stalinabad (lat. 38° 34′ N., long. 68° 47′ E.) above the Hissar Valley, and is described as having a rotational movement. Rotation round a


vertical axis is strongly suggested by the appearance in the photograph of the middle and upper parts of the cloud. Students of cloud FIG. 1. forms will recognise at once the very unusual


character of this cloud, which has some structural resemblance both to the cumulo-nimbus cloud associated with a thunderstorm and to the funnel cloud of the tornado. By a curious


coincidence, in a recent number of the Meteorological Magazine (Nov. 1934, vol. 69, No. 826) a sketch is shown of a cloud observed on October 4, 1934, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, by


Mr. Donald L. Champion, which has strong points of resemblance to the cloud just described. In each case a strong upward growth appears to have taken place over one part of a rather


flattened cumulus cloud, the base of which was inclined to be convex, the central parts appearing to be lower than those farther from the centre. In the cloud near Waltham Cross the rapid


vertical extension was formed in a few seconds, and after about five minutes the mushroom-shaped top spread out horizontally to form an ‘anvil’ cloud like those so often seen over thunder


clouds. In both cases it is likely that opposed wind currents and convexion, perhaps associated with local heating, may have combined to produce rapid ascent of air with otation. Access


through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal


Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Learn more Buy this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may


be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support


RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE A Remarkable Cloud Form. _Nature_ 135, 62 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/135062a0 Download citation *


Issue Date: 12 January 1935 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/135062a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a


shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative