mushroom clouds vs clouds

[crimsone]

a silly question that popped into my mind, but it should be easy to answer...

Did meteorologists know the dynamics of growing clouds and the limits on their height in the atmospher (and of course, the reason why) before they observed the mushroom cloud from the first A-Bomb test, or did that mushroom cloud teach them something about the dynamics?

[Harry]

I cannot promise this is an accurate answer but just an idea I have; wouldn't volcanic eruptions have shown this?

[richarddx7]

In a nuclear explosion or volcanic eruption the "cloud" can extend well into the stratosphere because it is a lot warmer than the surrounding air even through the temperature inversion of the tropopause. Condensed water clouds at that level are made of ice crystals and can never penetrate the temperature inversion of the tropopause. Mine was a pretty basic answer that could probably be expanded upon in some way, however.

Edited July 21, 2008 by richarddx7