Question

At which of the following locations in the atmosphere is the anvil of a towering cumulonimbus cloud usually located?

• A. Top of the surface layer
• B. Top of the boundary layer
• C. Tropopause
• D. Stratopause

Hint:

The tropopause is the typical boundary for the vertical growth of cumulonimbus clouds, and its anvil is often observed at this level, marking the end of cloud ascent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The anvil of a towering cumulonimbus cloud is typically located at the tropopause. The tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, and it acts as a barrier that prevents further vertical growth of clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds can extend from the surface to the tropopause, with the anvil typically spreading horizontally at this boundary.
- Top of the surface layer refers to the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface, where most weather events, including clouds, are observed, but not the anvil of a cumulonimbus cloud.
- Top of the boundary layer refers to the transition zone between the surface layer and the free atmosphere, but it is not where the anvil of a cumulonimbus cloud forms.
- Stratopause is the boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere, well above the tropopause, and not where the anvil of a cumulonimbus cloud is located.
Thus, the correct answer is (C) Tropopause.