Commercial Pilot Licence Aeroplane Meteorology Practice Test – Your Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success! 2025

A cumulonimbus cloud is characterized by its significant vertical development. These clouds grow tall and can reach high altitudes, often extending well into the atmosphere. This vertical growth is crucial as it typically signifies strong convection processes, which can lead to severe weather phenomena like thunderstorms, heavy rain, and even tornadoes.

In contrast to clouds that remain low with flat bases, cumulonimbus clouds exhibit a towering structure with a more complex shape. While they may contain water vapor, describing them solely as clouds made mainly of water vapor doesn’t capture their unique properties. Cumulonimbus clouds also extend through various altitude layers, but they are not primarily associated with high altitudes like some other cloud types, such as cirrus clouds, which are typically found at high levels in the atmosphere. Thus, the defining feature of cumulonimbus clouds is their ability to develop vertically, making this the most accurate description.