Weather2250

Cloud Show in Denver

I recently saw a great cloud show on a trip to Denver.  It started with a very dramatic dark sky just before a thunderstorm and ended with these impressive Mammatus clouds.  The clouds are named after the Latin word mamma meaning “udder” or “breast”.  They form on the underside of various cloud types especially Cumulonimbus and are a result of reverse convection.  Warm humid air falls and some of the water vapor mixes with cooler air forming hanging pouches.

Cloud Spotting

The photo above shows a view of the Detroit skyline on the morning of October 20, 2009.  Low on the horizon is a cloud of black smoke from an industrial fire which started in a paving-grade asphalt yard located in the city of River Rouge.  Visible for miles, the smoke was a health threat to nearby residents.

For information on air quality the state of Michigan has numerous sites for monitoring particulate matter.  There are several sites located in the city of Detroit, including a site right next to the River Rouge industrial complex.