Mammalian Clouds
 

Flying to the Channel Islands late last summer I noticed classic 'mammalian cloud' formations. I've not seen it since and can anyone out there explain how/why they form? I know I should know but its been a while since I sat the ATPL exams! Many thanks..

A quick search came up with this explanation:

"Mammatus are formed on the underside of a thunderstorm anvil and are a rare example of clouds formed by subsiding air. They are often seen after the worst of thunderstorm has passed. The warming produced by the sinking air in the anvil causes evaporation and the cloud droplets form transparent water vapour at the edge of the cloud."

Hope this helps

Gotta agree, my version is that Mamma are caused by cold down-currents carrying cloudlets downwards.

A weird one indeed!!

Thanks guys

As I recall there was a huge thunderhead/anvil fairly close and it was all very impressive-just glad I wasn't in it!

Apparantly the Mammata clouds are not that bad to fly through. Wouldn't want to get that close to a CB though!
Maybe XV208 Snoopy could enlighten us as to his experiences of the phenomenon.

Mammalian???

You have led a sheltered life, airtaxi. The latin term mammatus refers only to a (relatively) small part of the mammalian anatomy. Recall the shape of the clouds you saw and try again - I'm sure it will come to you unless, of course, you were bottle-fed.