March 2014

The Cloudship Incus

This Month’s formation boldly goes where no cloud has gone before. Resembling the Starship Enterprise, it is in fact a dramatic example of a Cumulonimbus incus, photographed over Sao Jose dos Campo, Brazil by Guilherme Touchtenhagen Schild. The incus classification comes from the Latin for a blacksmith’s anvil, because of the way that these huge storm clouds spread out at the top. There are hints of mamma, or mammatus, formations beneath the forground part of the anvil. The beams of light from the low sun, which are known as ‘crespuscular rays‘, spread outwards due to the effects of perspective. A glorious example like this shows just why the Cumulonimbus is known as The King of Clouds.

Photograph © Guilherme Touchtenhagen Schild.

33 thoughts on “March 2014”

  1. radiometeolibera says:

    Ottima scelta

  2. Thank you everyone! I’m verya glad to share this photo with you guys.

    Regards to all!

  3. Alfons Kuhn avatar Monalfi says:

    reminds me of Independance day ;-)

  4. Onno de Fouw says:

    Put in perspective: looks a bit threatening and like the Crimea, but this one is all natural beauty. Fantastic shot!

  5. Jules Mathers avatar smileyjoolz says:

    Wow….fantastic photo. Thank you

  6. Vix says:

    What an amazing cloud formation! Excellent photography as well :)

  7. Anonymous says:

    How lucky we are to be able to see a picture such as this Thank you Cloud Appreciation

  8. Mistyla says:

    Que foto linda! Tive o prazer de admirar essa magnífica nuvem ao chegar em São José dos Campos. Tanto do céu, de dentro de um avião, quanto do solo… uma vista maravilhosa! Incrível!

  9. Shirley Vuille avatar rookie says:

    Ethereal beauty. Absolutely glorious. Thank you

  10. Marianne Fox says:

    Glorious – it made my day to see this picture!

  11. Janet McIntyre says:

    Absolutely stunning, dramatic, beautiful! Thank you for capturing this on film and sharing.

  12. Annie Queree avatar Annie Queree says:

    Absolutely wonderful,Wow! what a truly amazing creation we have been blessed with!

  13. Paul Glover avatar Paul Glover says:

    How good is that? Descriptive words fail me

  14. Glynis Garbutt avatar Glynis Garbutt says:

    What a beauty, It looks like an oyster mushroom. Wow!

  15. Colin says:

    Best anvil I have seen at any time ever – magnifico!

  16. Gerry Sperry avatar Gerry says:

    The Mother Ship of clouds! Magnificent!

  17. Caroline Teal avatar Caroline says:

    Splendid!

  18. Fabulous, incredible. Thanks a lot for sharing such a wonderful photo.
    bravo Guilherme.

  19. Paul Stöver avatar Paul Stover says:

    Is is beautifull and makes me humble. Thank you for sharing!

  20. Joan H. Laurino avatar Joan H. Laurino says:

    That does it!! Can’t better than that! This is the reward we get when we look up with a camera and capture such magic!

  21. Cristina Bianchi says:

    Bellissima! Che spettacolo!

  22. Guilherme Fernandes says:

    Sinistridade! Foto sensacional…

  23. Ariana Cursino says:

    Parabéns Tchê! Linda Foto!!!

  24. José Mauro do Nascimento says:

    Foto cabulosa!!!!!!

  25. Carlos Gurjão says:

    Tchê (Guilherme), this is a really beautyful photo!!
    Congratulations!!

  26. Josildo Oliveira says:

    Belíssima foto Schild !!! Uma das melhores. Merece vários prêmios !!!

  27. Victor says:

    Bela foto Guilherme!! Realmente uma das melhores fotos suas que já vi.

  28. Mike Armstrong avatar mike says:

    Incredible! Looks like a huge mushroom is going to eat the city below

  29. Linda Allen says:

    That has to be the most amazingly beautiful cloud EVER! Not truly convinced there is not a space ship in it though. Lol

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