Pyro-convective Cloud

Large and intense forest fires release enormous amount of water vapour that may rise and produce cumuliform clouds called pyro-convective clouds. In late June 2004, these clouds were spotted to form from forest fires over British Columbia and Yukon, Canada as well as Alaska, U.S.A., bringing smoke and carbon monoxide to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. One such cloud was observed and photographed (below) on board an aircraft flying at 34,000 feet in the region.

Photo of a pyro-convective cloud observed over British Columbia, Canada at 20:48 UTC, 27 June 2004 (courtesy of Mr. Noriyuki Todo, Japan Airlines)