TERMIUM Plus®

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

PENDANT CLOUD [1 record]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 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.

Save record 1

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Display options

Change the order of display of the official languages of Canada
Option to display the non-official languages (Spanish or Portuguese)
Display definitions, contexts, etc., on records

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: