pyrocumulus-cloud-frank-wilson

I took this photograph Sunday, August 12th from Route 70 on my way home from Sacramento. It is a giant pyrocumulus, or fire cloud over the wildfire in Plumas Na...
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I took this photograph Sunday, August 12th from Route 70 on my way home from Sacramento. It is a giant pyrocumulus, or fire cloud over the wildfire in Plumas National Forest that has burned nearly 50 square miles of forest just 20 miles to the east of my home. I was about 35 miles from the fire when I captured this image.

A pyrocumulus cloud is produced by the intense heating of the air from the surface. The intense heat induces convection which causes the air mass to rise to a point of stability, usually in the presence of moisture. Phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires can induce formation of this cloud. Static Charges from the heated atmosphere and smoke and ash particles often produce lightning.
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