Flammagenitus

Definition

A cloud whose formation is directly caused by fire, either a wildfire or an industrial fire. The heat of the fire drives strong convection, and the smoke particles provide abundant nuclei for condensation. It was added to the atlas in 2017.

Field note

A flammagenitus can become a pyrocumulonimbus and produce lightning and its own rain, which usually falls into the fire area and dries out before landing. It can also inject smoke into the stratosphere, where it stays for months.

Related terms

• Homogenitus · homogenitus
• Cumulus · Cumulus
• Cumulonimbus · Cumulonimbus