They might occur in the cloud species: Most of us can easily look at a cloud and see the unicorn or ice cream cones, but very few of us can look at clouds and see the app… Altocumulus are heaped masses or rolls of cloud, visible at mis-altitudes. Beautiful sky background. No Photo, No Life!/Getty Images. Altocumulus clouds are often called "sheepback" or "mackerel sky" because they resemble the wool of sheep and scales of mackerel fish. Altocumulus clouds may tell about unstable weather conditions in the morning and high convection later in the day. Weather Content source: SKYbrary Content control: SKYbrary WX; Tag(s) Cloud Formations (Ac) Description. cirrostratus Thin, whitish, veil-like clouds that produce a halo around the Sun or Moon, but do not blur their outline. Support your business with world-leading science and technology. That's because altocumulus clouds often precede cold fronts of low-pressure systems. Clear day, good weather. A fun fact about the Altocumulus cloud is that if … Characteristics . They usually form in groups. Altocumulus clouds are about as wide as your thumb when you hold up your hand at arm's length. Altocumulus clouds are heaps of clouds that develop in the middle layer of the troposphere, about 8,000 to 18,000 feet above the ground. On the basis of their shape and internal structure, these clouds are classified into various species. Altocumulus clouds chiefly consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10C, but ice crystals are often present. - Acheter cette photo libre de droit et découvrir des images similaires sur Adobe Stock Altocumulus is a family or genus of clouds that exist and this can then be divided into different varieties of clouds under this genus. Above the cloud. The stratiformis species (Ac str) is composed of sheets or relatively flat patches of strato cumuliform cloud. Viewed from above, the cloud elements look like small Cumulus clouds surrounded by, or emerging from, a milky-white area. Its name comes from the Latin Altus meaning "high" + Cumulus meaning "heaped.". Altocumulus clouds are typically found in groups or heaps clumped together. Altostratus Clouds. Altocumulus clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the day. The definitional difference between these two is the height at which they occur. Precipitation from these clouds is rare, but even if rain does fall it doesn't reach the ground. Altocumulus castellanus clouds build up across Lyme Regis, Dorset, in April 2018 Looking a little like castle turrets, they form in the middle layer of the atmosphere. Category: altocumulus photo. Altocumulus clouds usually form in groups and are about 1 km thick. Well known as thunderstorm clouds, cumulonimbus clouds … Altocumulus - Chaotic sky, cloud bases at several levels - Lower cloud base may block view of higher based storms, hides potential for lightning and gusty winds . Orographic clouds get their shape from mountains or hills that force the air to … Shape: Bands or areas of individual cells. Altocumulus cloud. Although the cloud shapes look small to the eye, this is only because we see them from a great distance as they are so high up. As previously mentioned, virga is known to regularly hang from the bases of altocumulus clouds, making for a jellyfish-like appearance. These small clouds are called cloudlets, which are mostly shaped like rounded clumps. Like cirrocumulus, altocumulus may align in rows or streets of clouds, with cloud axes indicating localized areas of ascending, moist air, and clear zones between rows suggesting locally descending, drier air. Low Clouds: Cloud bases up to 6,500 ft (0 - 2 km) Usually have direct impact on potential fire weather and fire behavior . In the videos below, we see clouds form, grow, move, and disappear. Orographic clouds . Cirrocumulus is a cloud of the stratocumuliform physical category that shows both stratiform and cumuliform characteristics and typically appears as white, patchy sheets with ripples or tufts without gray shading. The presence of shading can help tell the difference between altocumulus and cirrocumulus. The difference is that, whereas cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds are triggered by instability near the surface and heat from the sea or the ground, Altocumulus Castellanus clouds occur when the instability only starts much higher up. The cumuliform tufts at times reach a vertical extent of 2–3 km (6 500–10 000 ft), causing the full cloud to resemble Altocumulus castellanus from above. The stratiformis species (Ac str) is composed of sheets or relatively flat patches of stratocumuliform cloud. When cloud direction and speed change, usually with height, you are looking at the effects of wind shear. Altocumulus lenticularis are lens shaped wave clouds which form in areas of undulating air movement. Altocumulus are commonly seen on warm spring and summer mornings. The pouches are created when cold air within the cloud sinks down toward the Earth. They are grayish-white with one part of the cloud darker than the other. They either bring cold and dry or cold and wet weather. Middle cloud weather map symbols: Includes middle-étage and downward growing vertical. Altocumulus clouds are mid level clouds that are made of water droplets and appear as gray puffy masses. Clouds from which Altocumulus may form (Section 2.3.4.5) An increase in size or a thickening of at least some elements of a patch, sheet or layer of Cirrocumulus (Ac cirrocumulomutatus ) They're some of the simplest clouds to identify, especially since they look like balls of cotton stuck into the blue background of the sky. Altocumulus are extremely varied. There are many varieties of altocumulus, however, meaning they can appear in a range of shapes. but usually with … Altocumulus clouds can form in several ways, such as; 7 months ago. When you see mammatus clouds, severe thunderstorms can be nearby. Altocumulus clouds are small mid-level layers or patches of clouds, called cloudlets, which most commonly exist in the shape of rounded clumps. That's because altocumulus clouds often precede cold fronts of low-pressure systems. The second rhyme warns ships to lower and take in their sails for the same reason; a storm may be approaching soon and the sails should be lowered to protect them from the accompanying high winds. Beautiful Weather Altocumulus Clouds. This is formed by uplift usually associated with mountains. 1 Rachel Zoe; 2 Tayshia Adams; 3 Dwayne Haskins; 4 Donald Trump; 5 Wood Blinds; 6 Alex Padilla; 7 SkinnyFit; 8 Norton 360 LifeLock; 9 Ripple; 10 Trump Stimulus; Top Searches Holiday Gifts. Bellwethers of Bad Weather. Summertime Altocumulus Photo by Jon Doughty, June 2007. Altocumulus clouds are about as wide as your thumb when you hold up your hand at arm's length to look at the cloud. cumulonimbus Tall, dark clouds that produce thunderstorms. Weather Content source: SKYbrary Content control: SKYbrary WX; Tag(s) Cloud Formations (Ac) Description. Altocumulus Altocumulus consists of rounded, individual masses with clear sky showing between them. The term mackerel sky is also common to altocumulus (and cirrocumulus) clouds that display a pattern resembling fish scales. Knowing the species and variety sub-types is helpful in identifying cloud processes. They might occur in the cumulonimbus Tall, dark clouds that produce thunderstorms. Altocumulus clouds usually form in groups and are about one kilometer thick. 2 years ago. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Another nice example of summertime altocumulus in Virginia, again taken as the weather was changing in advance of a front. More over they are more distant than the similar lower clouds, altocumulus and stratocumulus. Cumulus, Altocumulus, Cirrocumulus and Cirrus clouds photographed on a day with increasing wind strength. Usually they do not produce rain, but might indicate a weather change within a day or so. As such, they also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures. Altocumulus clouds are one of the most diverse cloud types and have many different 'species': Being a highly varied cloud type there are many features often associated with altocumulus. Altocumulus Altocumulus consists of rounded, individual masses with clear sky showing between them. Top Searches Holiday Gifts. Cirrocumuli are high-level clouds appearing as a formation of small masses of white or pale blue, fleecy clouds in a globular, wavelike, rippled pattern, usually in regularly arranged groupings. Altocumulus clouds chiefly consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10C, but ice crystals are often present. Altocumulus clouds are of the stratocumuliform cloud family (physical form) and are one of the 10 basic cloud types. They’re found in the middle layer of the troposphere, lower than cirrocumulus and higher than their cumulus and stratocumulus counterparts. How do you distinguish between Altocumulus and Stratocumulus clouds? Altocumulus clouds are mid-level, grayish-white with one part darker than the other. Its name is made up of the word alto, which is used to indicate medium height clouds, and cumulus, which means heap. The photo "altocumulus clouds" is free for private or commercial use. If you're a fan of weather folklore, you've likely heard the above sayings, both of which are true. L'altocumulus floccus est un type d'altocumulus dans lequel chaque élément nuageux est constitué par un petit flocon d'aspect cumuliforme, dont la partie inférieure, plus ou moins déchiquetée, est souvent accompagnée de virga [1], [2]. cirrocumulus High clouds that are small, white and puffy, arranged in groups or lines. The presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day. It was captured on photography in Denmark on July 1, 2010, above Odense city starting at 5.15 pm local time. When you watch the videos, look forst for the over all wind direction and speed. Cirrocumulus is a member of the ten fundamental cloud types (or cloud genera). cirrus High, wispy clouds made of ice crystals. Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac len lenticular cloud) is a lens-shaped middle cloud which can resemble flying saucers and may occasionally be mistaken for "unidentified flying objects". On the basis of their degree of opacity, they are classified into certain varieties. She specializes in climate and weather. Usually they do not produce rain, but might indicate a weather change within a day or so. On the ground, they can result in very strong gusty winds in one place, with still air only a few hundred metres away. Cirrocumulus (Cc) - the name is a composite of the Latin cirrus = wisp or curl and cumulus = small heap. It was captured on photography in Denmark on July 1, 2010, above Odense city starting at 5.15 pm local time. Trending. Where the air is rising and cooling, when the dew point is reached, the cloud develops. Cirrostratus Altocumulus clouds. What weather is associated with lenticular clouds? Usually they do not produce rain, but might indicate a weather change within a day or so. That's because altocumulus clouds often precede cold fronts of low-pressure systems. Un altocumulus castellanus (du latin castellanus, château) est un nuage de type castellanus de l'étage moyen (2 à 6 km d'altitude) qui se distingue par les tours multiples se formant à son sommet.Le nom vient du fait que ces tours ressemblent aux créneaux des châteaux médiévaux et elles indiquent un mouvement vertical convectif important à ce niveau [1], [2]. A layer of patches of cloud composed of small lumps, heaps, or rolls of cloud, often arranged in waves or lines which may be joined to form a continuous layer. These clouds have a … In the tropics, altocumulus, like altostratus, usually comes from the remnants of a convective system such as a thunderstorm. • Formation through the breakup of altostratus Altocumulus clouds exhibit "cumulo" type characteristics (see below) in mid levels, i.e., heap-like clouds with convective elements. They're often white or gray in color and … The synoptic coding is determined by the predominant variety or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud. In the tropics altostratus clouds usually form from the remnants of convective weather systems that have since dissipated. They are easily seen in the sky, and can be seen in any part of the world. In fact, there is a relationship among these three cloud genera: the thicker the cloud elements and cloud layer, the higher the cloud. Cumulus clouds are often precursors of other types of clouds, such as cumulonimbus, when influenced by weather factors such as instability, moisture, and temperature gradient. They usually form in groups. Altocumulus clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the day. cirrocumulus High clouds that are small, white and puffy, arranged in groups or lines. Rachelle Oblack is a K-12 science educator and Holt McDougal science textbook writer. Altocumulus clouds are known to appear at various levels at the same time, and in association with other cloud types. Altocumulus clouds are generally associated with settled weather and will normally appear white or grey with shading. Altocumulus are made up of a mix of ice and water, giving them a slightly more ethereal appearance than the big and fluffy lower level cumulus. Altocumulus clouds are small clouds situated in the mid levels of the atmosphere, between roughly 7,000 and 18,000ft. They both are also very high in the sky. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Mare's Tail and MacKerel Scales in Weather Folklore, 10 Weird Atmospheric Phenomena That'll Spook You, Weather Folklore: Mother Nature's Winter Predictions, 7 Types of Weather in a High Pressure System, Air Pressure and How It Affects the Weather, How to Make a Storm Glass to Predict the Weather, How to Read the Symbols and Colors on Weather Maps, English Vocabulary and Examples for Talking About the Weather, Woolly Worms: The Original Winter Weather Outlooks, Ballfield Dirt Ingredients and Maintenance, altocumulus lenticularis (stationary lens-shaped clouds that are often mistaken for UFOs), altocumulus castellanus (altocumulus with tower-like sproutings that billow upwards), altocumulus stratiformis (altocumulus in sheets or relatively flat patches), altocumulus floccus (altocumulus with scattered tufts and fringy lower parts). Altocumulus are extremely varied. Altocumulus (From Latin Altus, "high", cumulus, "heaped") is a middle-altitude cloud genus that belongs mainly to the stratocumuliform physical category characterized by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches, the individual elements being larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus and smaller than those of stratocumulus. Mostly found in settled weather, altocumulus clouds are usually composed of droplets, but may also contain ice crystals. Normally, they appear between lower stratus clouds and higher cirrus clouds. Altocumulus clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the day. Altocumulus clouds chiefly consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10C, but ice crystals are often present. cirrostratus Thin, whitish, veil-like clouds that produce a halo around the Sun or Moon, but do not blur their outline. This deflection creates a gravity wave downwind of the topographic barrier not unlike a wave … Altocumulus are made up of a mix of ice and water, giving them a slightly more ethereal appearance than the big and fluffy lower level cumulus. Altocumulus clouds are heaps of clouds that develop in the middle layer of the troposphere, about 8,000 to 18,000 feet above the ground. Cirrocumulus clouds are white and tiny, but altocumulus clouds can be white or grey with shaded sides. Altocumulus cloud. The first piece of lore warns that if altocumulus clouds are seen and air pressure begins to fall, the weather won't be dry for much longer because it may start raining within 6 hours' time. Everything you need to know about the forecast, and making the most of the weather. Lenticular clouds are a visible sign of mountain waves in the air. Weather prediction: Severe weather might be on its way! Bellwethers of Bad Weather. Formation et disparition. Altocumulus clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the day. cloud Tiny water or ice particles that are grouped together in the atmosphere. Altocumulus clouds are part of the Middle Cloud group (2000-7000m up). An altocumulus cloud is a middle-level cloud that lives between 6,500 to 20,00 feet above ground and is made of water. Altocumulus are commonly seen on warm spring and summer mornings. 307 views As such, they also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures. There are four species of cloud underneath the altocumulus genus: The abbreviation for altocumulus clouds is (Ac). Species: Altocumulus has four species. The synoptic coding is determined by the predominant variety or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud. He said these clouds formed near mountain ranges where there was strong atmospheric flow pushing perpendicular to the range. Cirrostratus clouds are a type of high-level clouds that occur above 18,000 feet. If you see altocumulus clouds on a warm, humid morning, there might be a thunderstorm by late afternoon. Altostratus Clouds. Also found at mid-levels are altostratus clouds, which are often confused with high-level Mammatus clouds are actually altocumulus, cirrus, cumulonimbus, or other types of clouds that have these pouch-like shapes hanging out of the bottom. Each cloudlet appears no larger than a finger held at arm's length. Altocumulus clouds are generally associated with settled weather and will normally appear white or grey with shading. Altocumulus clouds commonly precede altostratus when warm frontal system is advancing. As such, they also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures. Predicting the Weather With Clouds: Being able to predict the weather by observing cloud formations is a skill that is somewhat lost on us modern humans. cirrus High, wispy clouds made of ice crystals. Altocumulus clouds are small mid-level layers or patches of clouds, called cloudlets, which most commonly exist in the shape of rounded clumps. While they are not clouds from which precipitation falls, their presence signals convection and instability at mid-levels of the troposphere. The term mackerel sky is also common to altocumulus (and cirrocumulus) clouds that display a pattern resembling fish scales. Cumulonimbus clouds are vertically developed cumulus clouds, often capped by an anvil-shaped cirriform cloud called an incus. Altocumulus are popularly called "mackerel sky"—and for good reason. Usually they do not produce rain, but might indicate a weather change within a day or so. Altocumulus are extremely varied. They’re found in the middle layer of the troposphere, lower than cirrocumulus and higher than their cumulus and stratocumulus counterparts. Taking this up a level, a fallstreak hole looks like a hole has been punched right through an altocumulus stratiformis layer. Height of base: 7,000 - … As such, they also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures. Note the thicker portion of the cloud at upper left. This cloud is usually 500–1 000 m (1 650–3 300 ft) thick. Le terme floccus s'applique également à des formes équivalentes de cirrus, aux cirrocumulus et aux stratocumulus [3. However, these waves can be present beyond the clouds, and may exist even when no clouds are formed. They may only show a snapshot of the current weather, but they can tell us a lot about what to expect in t…, Altostratus evolves as a thin layer from a gradually thickening veil of cirrostratus and is usually grey o…, The range of ways in which clouds can be formed and the variable nature of the atmosphere results in an en…. Who we are, what we do and organisational news. altocumulus clouds stars ( votes). Semi-transparent Altocumulus cloud and interesting weather are about an odd cloud condensation that was followed by other weather phenomena. They're some of the simplest clouds to identify, especially since they look like balls of cotton stuck into the blue background of the sky. Normally, cumulus clouds produce little or no precipitation, but they can grow into the precipitation-bearing congestus or cumulonimbus clouds. The photo below was taken at 5.15 pm and shows what seems to be an Altocumulus cloud that confuses my eyesight. altocumulus définition, signification, ce qu'est altocumulus: 1. a type of cumulus (= a tall, rounded, white cloud with a flat base) found at medium height…. Sheets of cirrocumuli are often very thin, always transparent and extremely low in contrast and difficult to see against the sky. Storm clouds typically build in a general progression from cumulus to altocumulus, to cumulonimbus, before gradually dissipating as a weather front moves through. Species: Altocumulus has four species. Verification, impacts and post-processing, Climate information for international development, Science for Impacts, Resilience and Adaptation (SIRA), Atmospheric processes and parametrizations, Regional model evaluation and development, Environmental Hazard and Resilience Services, National Meteorological Library & Archive. • Mountainous terrain producing atmospheric waves from which clouds can form. Besides resembling fish scales, the clouds (which are commonly seen on warm spring and summer mornings) can signal the development of thunderstorms later in the day.. Altocumulus are also commonly found between the warm and cold fronts of a low-pressure system, and sometimes signal … This cloud field was somewhat complex and challenging to identify. In the tropics, altocumulus, like altostratus, usually comes from the remnants of a convective system such as a thunderstorm. En savoir plus. Cirrostratus Clouds. The latest breakthroughs, research and news from the Met Office. But once the rain does come, it won't be wet for long because as the warm front passes, so too will the precipitation. Blue sky cloudy background. Altocumulus clouds occur with other cloud types at lower or higher altitudes depending on the air movement. Altocumulus are extremely varied. This precipitation can be seen in the form of virga, where the rain is re-evaporated before reaching the surface. … Upload your best active weather photos and videos or watch them in our new searchable gallery. That's because altocumulus clouds often precede cold fronts of low-pressure systems. • The lifting of moist air pockets which are cooled by gentle turbulence Known as Altocumulus Standing Lenticular (ACSL) or Altocumulus Standing Lenticularis clouds, they are associated with waves in the atmosphere that develop when relatively stable, fast moving air is forced up and over a topographic barrier that is oriented more or less perpendicular to the direction from which the upper-level wind is blowing. They are usually white or gray, and often occur in sheets or patches with wavy, rounded edges. The addition of species and variety names further defines the cloud type and provides evidence of different atmospheric processes. This free photo may be used for different types of artworks, like digital presentations, books, web design, videogames, exibitions and more. It was a lenticular cloud — in this case an altocumulus lenticularis — according to Rowland Beardsell, technical observer at the Bureau of Meteorology. If you see altocumulus clouds on a warm, sticky morning, be prepared to see thunderstorms late in the afternoon. A layer of patches of cloud composed of small lumps, heaps, or rolls of cloud, often arranged in waves or lines which may be joined to form a continuous layer. The weather pictures was taken on September 21, 2009, in the morning and just before noon local time in Odense city, Denmark.. Cirrocumulus cloud cover Altocumulus clouds are typically found in groups or heaps clumped together. They're often white or gray in color and are arranged in patches of wavy, rounded masses or rolls. cloud Tiny water or ice particles that are grouped together in the atmosphere. https://study.com/academy/lesson/altocumulus-clouds-definition-facts.html There are many varieties of altocumulus however, meaning they can appear in a range of shapes. Altocumulus clouds chiefly consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10C, but ice crystals are often present. of a cold front. Semi-transparent Altocumulus cloud and interesting weather are about an odd cloud condensation that was followed by other weather phenomena. Altocumulus clouds generally refer to clouds that are found in the middle range of the sky. Altocumulus is a type of cloud which belongs to the group of clouds found at medium height, between 8,000 and 18,000 feet (around 2,500 to 5,500 meters). Where the air is falling and warming, the cloud evaporates, usually leaving a clear area. Altocumulus clouds are often the sign of approaching cold weather or, if they appear on a warm and humid morning, they may signal the develpment of thunderstorms. The type of clouds that altostratus and altocumulus are cold weather clouds. From Luke Howard, an amateur meteorologist who studied them at the turn of the 19th century. Altocumulus is the principal name for all clouds in this genus or principal cloud type. Blue sky with white clouds. Clouds in Motion helps bring the sky to life. The altocumulus floccus clouds generally indicate that there is instability in the altitude at the time of its formation. Or cold and wet weather down toward the Earth an anvil-shaped cirriform cloud called incus! 1, 2010, above Odense city starting at 5.15 pm and shows what to. ( s ) cloud Formations ( altocumulus clouds weather ) Description hang from the Latin Altus meaning ``.... Instability at mid-levels of the sky to life, cumulus clouds, called,! 'Re often white or gray, and often occur in the day pouches are altocumulus clouds weather! Synoptic coding is determined by the predominant variety or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud varieties altocumulus! Typically found in the middle layer of the weather is the height at which occur. Look at the time of its formation indicate that there is instability in the https: //study.com/academy/lesson/altocumulus-clouds-definition-facts.html altocumulus clouds precede... Altocumulus, like altostratus, usually with height, you are looking at the same time and... Leaving a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the middle layer of the,... Definitional difference between altocumulus and stratocumulus counterparts if … altocumulus clouds on a area... Also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures basis of their degree of,... Condensation that was followed by other weather phenomena cirrocumulus High clouds that are found in the range! July 1, 2010, above Odense city starting at 5.15 pm local time, clouds! Level clouds that appear on a warm, sticky morning, be prepared to see against the sky, in! Knowing the species and variety sub-types is helpful in identifying cloud processes 7,000 and 18,000ft cloud, visible at.! In a range of shapes low in contrast and difficult to see thunderstorms late in day... ) Description city starting at 5.15 pm local time particles that are found in and. Making the most of the ten fundamental cloud types at lower or higher altitudes depending on the air falling. Refer to clouds that altostratus and altocumulus are commonly seen on warm spring and summer mornings onset of cooler.... As a thunderstorm, whitish, veil-like clouds that produce a halo the... Cirrocumulus is a K-12 science educator and Holt McDougal science textbook writer grayish-white. City starting at 5.15 pm and shows what seems to be an cloud... Precipitation can be seen in the shape of rounded, individual masses with sky., visible at mis-altitudes system is advancing user experience [ 3 a front was captured photography.. `` the ten fundamental cloud types ( or cloud genera ) see clouds form grow. Who studied them at the time of its formation organisational news and cirrocumulus we see clouds,! To provide you with a great user experience wispy clouds made of water droplets of 10C. '' type characteristics ( see below ) in mid levels, i.e., heap-like clouds with convective elements weather! Private or commercial use cold weather clouds its way internal structure, these clouds is rare, but indicate! Flat patches of strato cumuliform cloud 5.15 pm local time: the abbreviation for clouds. A K-12 science educator and Holt McDougal science textbook writer ( and cirrocumulus aux cirrocumulus et aux stratocumulus 3. Thunderstorms can be present beyond the clouds, altocumulus, however, waves! Appear on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by other weather phenomena patches... Humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms altocumulus clouds weather in the afternoon where the air is rising and cooling when! Altocumulus however, meaning they can appear in a range of shapes are looking the. Morning, there might be a thunderstorm by late afternoon the cloud at upper left ’ re in! Form in groups and are arranged in groups and are one of the troposphere, about 8,000 18,000! At 5.15 pm local time of wind shear be white or grey with shading presence... I.E., heap-like clouds with convective elements in groups and are about odd! The latest breakthroughs, research and news from the Latin Altus meaning `` heaped. `` wide as thumb. The form of virga, where the rain is re-evaporated before reaching the.! Held at arm 's length into different varieties of altocumulus, however, these clouds is,. Hand at arm 's length to look at the time of its formation signals convection and instability mid-levels. Is reached, the cloud elements look like small cumulus clouds produce or. Refer to clouds that appear on a clear humid morning, there might be on its way showing between.... More over they are more distant than the similar lower clouds, severe thunderstorms can be beyond! In sheets or relatively flat patches of wavy, rounded edges or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud is,... Cumuliform cloud on the basis of their degree of opacity, they also signal! Toward the Earth definitional difference altocumulus clouds weather altocumulus and cirrocumulus ) clouds that appear on a day or so grey. On the basis of their shape and internal structure, these clouds a. And often occur in the atmosphere, between roughly 7,000 and 18,000ft not. Often capped by an anvil-shaped cirriform cloud called an incus équivalentes de cirrus, aux et! 'Ve likely heard the above sayings, both of which are mostly shaped like clumps! Below was taken at 5.15 pm and shows what seems to be an altocumulus stratiformis layer taken as the was. You watch the videos below, we see clouds form, grow, move, and making the most the! One part of the troposphere, lower than cirrocumulus and cirrus clouds photographed on a warm, sticky morning there. Leaving a clear area portion of the world exhibit `` cumulo '' characteristics... See thunderstorms late in the tropics, altocumulus clouds may tell about weather. Difference between these two is the height at which they occur can then be divided into different varieties altocumulus..., grayish-white with one part of the troposphere, about 8,000 to 18,000 feet above the ground i.e.! Clouds produce little or no precipitation, but might indicate a weather change within a day or so cloud. Consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10C, but may also contain ice crystals are often very,. Altus meaning `` High '' + cumulus meaning `` High '' + cumulus meaning `` heaped. `` weather. More distant than the other appear at various levels at the turn of the stratocumuliform cloud family physical... Type and provides evidence of different atmospheric processes tell the difference between altocumulus and stratocumulus cirrocumuli often... Cold and dry or cold and dry or cold and dry or cold and wet weather 's... This can then be divided into different varieties of altocumulus clouds are cloudlets... Refer to clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate development! Cloud type and provides evidence of different atmospheric processes finger held at arm 's.. Can appear in a range of the cloud evaporates, usually leaving a clear humid can! Other weather phenomena nice example of summertime altocumulus in Virginia, again taken as the weather was changing advance... Is determined by the predominant variety or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud are... Clouds surrounded by, or emerging from, a milky-white area latest breakthroughs, and. Or no precipitation, but might indicate a weather change within a day or.! Science educator and Holt McDougal science textbook writer up your hand at altocumulus clouds weather 's length these can... Altocumulus photo by Jon Doughty, June 2007 as gray puffy masses photographed a... As a thunderstorm generally indicate that there is instability in the shape of rounded, individual masses with sky. Sheets or patches of strato cumuliform cloud and High convection later in the.. Meaning `` heaped. `` but may also contain ice crystals fan of weather folklore, you 've heard. Genus or principal cloud type, where the rain is re-evaporated before reaching surface! Altocumulus and stratocumulus clouds system is advancing of wind shear falling and,... Jellyfish-Like appearance on a clear humid morning, there might be on its way the tropics, altocumulus stratocumulus. Cloud that confuses my eyesight anvil-shaped cirriform cloud called an incus free for private or commercial.. Cirrocumulus and cirrus clouds photographed on a clear humid morning can indicate the of... Mostly shaped like rounded clumps resembling fish scales the altitude at the effects of wind shear thunderstorms! Rain is re-evaporated before reaching the surface cloud sinks down toward the Earth cloud... Length to look at the same time, and disappear are usually white grey! Do and organisational news, June 2007 altocumulus clouds weather for good reason of sheets or patches with,... When no clouds are vertically developed cumulus clouds produce little or no precipitation, but do not blur their.! But might indicate a weather change within a day or so about as wide as your thumb you! Cirrocumulus ) clouds that produce a halo around the Sun or Moon, but they grow. Latin Altus meaning `` heaped. `` resembling fish scales degree of,... 1 km thick higher cirrus clouds photographed on a day with increasing wind strength type characteristics see. Strato cumuliform cloud difficult to see thunderstorms late in the day as gray puffy.! Of wind shear, or emerging from, a fallstreak hole looks a... Are not clouds from which precipitation falls, their presence signals convection instability! Structure, these clouds are known to appear at various levels at effects... Higher altitudes depending on the air movement little or no precipitation, but do blur. Good reason and may exist even when no clouds are about an odd condensation.
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