Plumes

Plumes are elongated, visible clouds or channels of material that originate at a source and extend outward or upward. The term is used across scientific disciplines and everyday language to describe a wide range of phenomena, from smoke rising from a fire to decorative feathers worn as part of clothing or insignia.

In atmospheric and environmental contexts, a plume refers to a column of gas, smoke, or vapor that emerges from a source such as a chimney, a wildfire, or a volcanic vent. Plumes may disperse under wind and atmospheric stability conditions and are often analyzed with plume models that estimate concentration at different distances from the source. Water, sediment, or chemical plumes can form when pollutants are released into air or water, or during activities such as oil extraction, wastewater discharge, or riverine mixing.

In geology, a mantle plume or hotspot is a proposed upwelling of hot rock from deep within the mantle that can create long-lived volcanic activity at the surface, such as the Hawaiian Islands. The theory remains debated and is one of several explanations for regional volcanism.

In biology and culture, a plume can denote a feather or group of feathers used for display, ornamentation, or ceremonial dress. The term also appears in heraldry and fashion to describe flowing, plume-like shapes.