Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

nuelle

English translation:

pseudo-cloudlet

Added to glossary by kashew
Dec 22, 2010 16:42
13 yrs ago
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French term

nuelle

French to English Science Meteorology cumulus clouds / thermals
This term is used twice in the text I'm translating about cumulus clouds and thermals, but the word doesn't seem to exist (even on the web).

Apparently, these "nuelles" are barely visible at the top of blue thermals - actually, I can't see a thing on the accompanying photo! My first thought was that it's a haze dome, but the second usage of the term in context actually refers also to a "dôme brumeux" so I'm not sure.

Here's the context:
En fait, ce ciel parsemé de quelques misérables cumulus cache des thermiques parfois sans même une barbule de cumulus.
Ainsi, en observant attentivement le ciel, on peut remarquer que le bleu n’est pas homogène. Il y a des poches plus claires qui ne sont pas un défaut de prise de vue.
Ces lentilles brumeuses parfois visibles au sommet des thermiques bleus sont appelées *** nuelles. ***

And a few lines further on:
*** Les nuelles *** sont le plus souvent visibles par temps stable.
L’été les ascendances peuvent se résumer à un discret dôme brumeux éventuellement accompagné de quelques barbules.
Proposed translations (English)
3 pseudo-cloudlet
References
Nuelle
Change log

Dec 26, 2010 17:20: kashew Created KOG entry

Discussion

Sheila Wilson (asker) Dec 22, 2010:
According to Reverso, it's a cloud that's being formed - a sort of cloudlet - but these are barely visible and never become clouds (think hot, cloudless day with tiny variations of blue that only trained eyes can spot).
Sheila Wilson (asker) Dec 22, 2010:
I don't believe it! It wasn't there before but it's on Reverso now. I'll see if that answers my question

Proposed translations

6 hrs
Selected

pseudo-cloudlet

Something went wrong...
1 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "A point for a possibility, Kashew, with thanks. More research and client contact has given "nascent cloudlet" or "wispie" as other candidates"

Reference comments

26 mins
Reference:

Nuelle

"Terme de météorologie. Couches blanches et grises dont se compose un nuage isolé entre lesquelles se forme le grésil, tandis que la grêle se forme entre les groupes de nuages bien distincts et d'un volume considérable. Diminutif de nue."
Note from asker:
I too found this definition - after posting the question! Doesn't seem to fit the context of a blue, cloudless sky, though
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