Convection | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Source: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-environment/severe-weather/convection
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:37
Convection | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
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Convection
Convection is a vertical transport of heat and moisture in the atmosphere, especially by updrafts and downdrafts in an unstable atmosphere. Above - anvil cirrus plumes, towering cumulus clouds, and turret shaped mid-level clouds are all visible forms of convection. However, convection is not always made visible by clouds. Convection which occurs without cloud formation is called dry convection, while the visible convection processes are called moist convection.
NOAA-20 saw a series of thunderstorms bubbling up over southeastern Africa, which appear in this true color image captured by the satellite's VIIRS sensor above.
Examples of Thunderstorms
Record Rainfall Brings Flooding and Landslides to Southeastern Brazil
On March 4, 2020, GOES-East saw an ongoing storm system over the coast and interior of Brazil.
Read about this storm over Brazil
Record Rainfall Brings Flooding and Landslides to Southeastern Brazil
“Wagon Wheel” Clouds Drift Toward Hawaii
From June 30–July 1, 2020, the GOES-West satellite captured a cluster of actinoform clouds drifting toward the Hawaiian islands.
Look at wagon wheel clouds
“Wagon Wheel” Clouds Drift Toward Hawaii
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Convection
Convection is a vertical transport of heat and moisture in the atmosphere, especially by updrafts and downdrafts in an unstable atmosphere. Above - anvil cirrus plumes, towering cumulus clouds, and turret shaped mid-level clouds are all visible forms of convection. However, convection is not always made visible by clouds. Convection which occurs without cloud formation is called dry convection, while the visible convection processes are called moist convection.
NOAA-20 saw a series of thunderstorms bubbling up over southeastern Africa, which appear in this true color image captured by the satellite's VIIRS sensor above.
Examples of Thunderstorms
Record Rainfall Brings Flooding and Landslides to Southeastern Brazil
On March 4, 2020, GOES-East saw an ongoing storm system over the coast and interior of Brazil.
Read about this storm over Brazil
Record Rainfall Brings Flooding and Landslides to Southeastern Brazil
“Wagon Wheel” Clouds Drift Toward Hawaii
From June 30–July 1, 2020, the GOES-West satellite captured a cluster of actinoform clouds drifting toward the Hawaiian islands.
Look at wagon wheel clouds
“Wagon Wheel” Clouds Drift Toward Hawaii