What factor can influence the upper limit of cumulus clouds?
In the troposphere, inversions enhance stability and typically restrict the upward growth of clouds, inhibiting further convection. Essentially, the vertical development of clouds is driven by differences in humidity and temperature between the cloud and its surroundings - if the air temperature is equal or higher than the cloud's temperature, clouds will stop growing.
Put simply, a temperature inversion is a layer in the atmosphere where the usual decrease in temperature with altitude reverses, causing temperature to increase with height. This inversion acts like a lid, preventing normal convective mixing of the atmosphere from breaking through. Some effects of temperature inversions include:
- Clouds just below the inversion may spread out and appear flattened.
- They can also suppress the formation of thunderstorms. Even in a hot and humid lower atmosphere, thunderstorm development can be thwarted if an inversion in the lower atmosphere prevents the rising of this warm air.
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