A pyrocumulus cloud is a dense cloud that often forms in association with volcanic activity, forest fires and nuclear explosions. A pyrocumulus cloud needs some kind of heat to form. The air is dramatically heated by convection which is heating by mass movement of particles. Moisture is also common in the formation. The heat causes the mass to rise and the cloud is formed. These clouds are common when a nuclear weapon is used, it is known as a mushroom cloud.
These clouds have been known about for thousands of years and during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD Pliny the Younger described a cloud over the volcano as "Like an Umbrella Pine."This cloud is still common over volcanic eruptions today.
Pyrocumulus clouds viewed from side and above.
Sources Wikipedia.com and Listverse.com
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