Anvil cloud (nuclear explosions)

An anvil cloud in nuclear explosions is a large, mushroom-shaped cloud formed when the explosion's intense heat and energy cause the surrounding air to rise rapidly. As the hot gases ascend, they cool and spread out horizontally at high altitudes, creating the characteristic flat, wide top resembling an anvil. This cloud can reach tens of thousands of feet in the atmosphere and visually represents the explosion's immense power, dispersing radioactive materials and debris over a broad area. The anvil cloud is a striking, recognizable feature of nuclear detonations, illustrating the explosion's scale and the resulting atmospheric effects.