Nimbus cloud

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This article is about a type of cloud. For the American cloud computing services firm, see Nimbo (company).
A cumulonimbus cloud in central Oklahoma

A nimbus cloud is a cloud that produces precipitation. Usually the precipitation reaches the ground as rain, hail, snow, or sleet. Falling precipitation may evaporate as virga. Rain comes out of nimbus clouds and this is called precipitation.

Since nimbus clouds are dense with water, they appear darker than other clouds. Nimbus clouds are formed at low altitudes and are typically spread uniformly across the sky.[1]

Etymology

Nimbus is a Latin word meaning cloud or rain storm. The prefix nimbo- or the suffix -nimbus indicates a precipitating cloud; for example, a nimbostratus cloud is a precipitating stratus cloud, and a cumulonimbus cloud is a precipitating cumulus cloud.

References

  1. ↑ "Nimbus Clouds". Buzzle.com. Retrieved 8 April 2012. 

Further reading

  • Smith, Alastair & Clarke, Philip (2001) Spotter's Guide to Weather. London: Usborne

External links

Cloud genera and selected species, supplementary features, and other airborne hydrometeors - WMO Latin terminology except where indicated
Extreme-level
Polar mesospheric cirriform type
Noctilucent
Very high-level
Polar stratospheric cirriform type
Nacreous
High-level
Tropospheric cirriform, stratiform, and stratocumuliform genera
Cirrus (Ci)
Cirrostratus (Cs)
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
General type (non-WMO terminology)
Aviaticus cloud (Contrail)
Medium-level
Tropospheric stratiform and stratocumuliform genera
Altostratus (As)
Altocumulus (Ac)
Stratocumuliform species
Altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas)
Low-level
Tropospheric stratiform, stratocumuliform and cumuliform genera
Stratus (St)
Stratocumulus (Sc)
Cumulus (Cu)
Stratiform and cumuliform species
Fractus
Cumulus humilis (Cu hum)
Stratocumulus variants (non-WMO terminology)
Actinoform cloud
Undulatus asperatus
Moderate vertical
Tropospheric stratiform and cumuliform genera
Nimbostratus (Ns)
Cumulus (Cu)
Cumuliform species
Cumulus mediocris (Cu med)
Cumuliform supplementary features
Cumulus Pileus
Cumulus Arcus (Roll)
Towering vertical
Tropospheric cumulonimbiform genus
Cumulonimbus (Cb)
Cumuliform species
Cumulus congestus (ICAO term Towering cumulus [Tcu])
Cumuliform and cumulonimbiform supplementary features
mammatus
Tuba (Funnel cloud)
Pileus
Arcus (Shelf)
Cumuliform and cumulonimbiform variants (non-WMO terminology)
Wall cloud
Pyrocumulus
Pyrocumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus Overshooting top
Hot tower
Surface based
General type
Fog
Non-height specific
General types
Accessory cloud
Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud
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