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The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

FUNNEL CLOUD [2 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2017-04-12

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
DEF

Cloud formed at the core of a waterspout or tornado vortex, sometimes extending right down to the ground, caused by the reduction of pressure at the centre of the vortex.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
DEF

Nuage formé au cœur du tourbillon d'une trombe d'eau ou d'une tornade, descendant parfois jusqu'au sol, causé par la réduction de pression au centre du tourbillon.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Física de la atmósfera
DEF

Nube que se forma en el centro de una tromba de agua o en el vórtice de un tornado que se extiende a veces hasta el suelo y que se origina por la reducción de la presión en el centro del vórtice.

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Record 2 2004-10-20

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
DEF

Cloud column or inverted cloud cone, protruding from a cloud base; it is a cloudy manifestation of a more or less intense vortex.

CONT

Funnel cloud is a condensation funnel extending from the base of a towering cumulus or Cb [cumulonimbus], associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground (and hence different from a tornado). A condensation funnel is a tornado, not a funnel cloud, if either a) it is in contact with the ground or b) a debris cloud or dust whirl is visible beneath it.

CONT

The tornado and severe weather associated storm produce a recognizable radar echo structural organization resulting from an intense moist updraft. Some of these considerations are: ... A low-level pendant exists generally perpendicular to the storm motion and beneath the echo overhang, or a bounded weak echo region (BWER) exists. This pendant may be absent in low precipitation supercells.

OBS

This supplementary cloud feature occurs with Cumulonimbus and, less often, with Cumulus.

OBS

tuba: ... when it reaches the earth's surface it constitutes the cloudy manifestation of an intense vortex, namely, a tornado or waterspout.

OBS

tuba: Obsolete; commonly called funnel cloud; also called pendant cloud, tornado cloud.

OBS

Some sources consider "tuba" and "funnel cloud" as synonyms, however in the International meteorological vocabulary [OMMV] these terms have separate entries.

OBS

Compare with "funnel column".

Key term(s)
  • pendent

French

Domaine(s)
  • Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
DEF

Colonne nuageuse ou cône nuageux renversé en forme d'entonnoir, sortant de la base d'un nuage; c'est une manifestation nuageuse d'un tourbillon de vent plus ou moins intense.

CONT

Il existe plusieurs variantes de tornades. Toutefois, on observe habituellement cinq étapes : la mise en place : une colonne d'air en rotation se développe au sein d'un cumulonimbus, puis se dirige vers le sol. Un nuage en forme d'entonnoir (le tuba) descend en tourbillonnant vers le sol; la naissance : en atteignant le sol, la colonne devient, par définition, une tornade [...]

CONT

[Le] tuba [est une] colonne ou cône nuageux en rotation rapide qui se développe de la base du nuage vers la surface, c'est la partie visible d'une tornade ou d'une trombe.

OBS

tuba [...] Cette particularité supplémentaire se présente avec les cumulonimbus et, plus rarement, avec les cumulus.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Fenómenos meteorológicos, climáticos y atmosféricos
DEF

Nube con una forma de columna o de cono invertido que emerge de la base de una nube; constituye la manifestación en forma de nube de un vórtice más o menos intenso.

OBS

Esta particularidad suplementaria se observa en los Cumulonimbus y, con menor frecuencia, en los Cumulus.

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