May 27, 2023 - Popcorn Clouds in the Congo Basin

Popcorn clouds
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Clouds covered the Congo Basin on May 24, 2023, when the Moderate
Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra
satellite captured this stunning true-color image. In some areas, the
clouds look puffy—almost like popcorn scattered across the scene. Note,
however, that clouds are completely absent over rivers and lakes in the
region, including the Congo River which curves across the center of the
scene.

The Congo River Basin, located along the equator in central Africa,
holds a mosaic of dense rain forest, savanna, swamps, and even flooded
forests, all filled with lush vegetation and considerable moisture.
This area is also known as one of the cloudiest places on Earth.

Cloud formation in the Congo River Basin is in large part driven by
water vapor released from trees and other plants throughout the day.
Plants convert light, carbon dioxide, and water into sugar and oxygen
through photosynthesis. As the plants inhale carbon dioxide, water
vapor escapes, a process called transpiration. On dry, sunny days, the
plants respond to the additional light by increasing photosynthesis,
which releases water vapor into the atmosphere. As the warm, moist air
above the plant canopy rises, it eventually begins to cool clouds form
overhead.

In addition, the land itself gives off heat and moisture on warm days.
This process, called evaporation, also creates clouds. The most common
clouds formed in the Congo Basin are low-altitude cumulus clouds, which
earned the nickname “popcorn” clouds due to their puffy appearance.

Bodies of water, on the other hand, do not change temperature as
rapidly as forest and land. Water remains cooler even during full Sun
exposure, typically not heating up enough to significantly warm the air
above it. Because of the cooler temperatures, the air doesn’t rise, and
clouds don’t form.

Image Facts
Satellite: Terra
Date Acquired: 5/24/2023
Resolutions: 1km (495.7 KB), 500m (1.6 MB), 250m (1.8 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-05-27

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