Cirrocumulus lacunosus

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Cirrocumulus lacunosus
Cirrocumulus lacunosus cloud.jpg
Cirrocumulus stratiformis lacunosus cloud
AbbreviationCc la
Symbol Clouds CH 9.svg
Genus Cirro- (curl)
-cumulus (heaped)
Variety lacunosus (full of gaps)
AltitudeAbove 6,000 m
(Above 20,000 ft)
AppearancePerforated with round, frayed holes [1]
Precipitation Virga only
Cirrocumulus lacunosus Cirrocumulus lacunosus zoomed in.jpg
Cirrocumulus lacunosus

Cirrocumulus lacunosus also known as Cirrocumulus lacunar or Cirrocumulus lacunaris [2] is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The term lacunosus is from Latin, meaning "full of hollows". [3] Cirrocumulus lacunosus is a relatively rare cloud form that occurs as a layer of cloud with circular holes in it. Formation is commonly attributed to a cool layer mixing with a warmer, higher layer of the atmosphere. [4] [5] These holes normally have frayed edges, and they are often arranged in a manner that resembles a net or a honeycomb. [6]

Contents

This term applies mainly to Cirrocumulus and Altocumulus; it may also apply, though very rarely, to Stratocumulus. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloud</span> Visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere

In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water or various other chemicals may compose the droplets and crystals. On Earth, clouds are formed as a result of saturation of the air when it is cooled to its dew point, or when it gains sufficient moisture from an adjacent source to raise the dew point to the ambient temperature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altocumulus cloud</span> Genus of mid-level cloud

Altocumulus 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. However, if the layers become tufted in appearance due to increased airmass instability, then the altocumulus clouds become more purely cumuliform in structure. Like other cumuliform and stratocumuliform clouds, altocumulus signifies convection. A sheet of partially conjoined altocumulus perlucidus is sometimes found preceding a weakening warm front, where the altostratus is starting to fragment, resulting in patches of altocumulus perlucidus between the areas of altostratus. Altocumulus is also commonly found between the warm and cold fronts in a depression, although this is often hidden by lower clouds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stratocumulus cloud</span> Family class 3 cloud type

A stratocumulus cloud, occasionally called a cumulostratus, belongs to a genus-type of clouds characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus, and the whole being at a lower height, usually below 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Weak convective currents create shallow cloud layers because of drier, stable air above preventing continued vertical development. Historically, in English, this type of cloud has been referred to as a twain cloud for being a combination of two types of clouds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimbostratus cloud</span> Common type of rain cloud

A nimbostratus cloud is a multi-level, amorphous, nearly uniform and often dark grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow or sleet but no lightning or thunder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus cloud</span> Genus of high-altitude clouds

Cirrocumulus is one of the three main genus types of high-altitude tropospheric clouds, the other two being cirrus and cirrostratus. They usually occur at an altitude of 5 to 12 km. Like lower-altitude cumuliform and stratocumuliform clouds, cirrocumulus signifies convection. Unlike other high-altitude tropospheric clouds like cirrus and cirrostratus, cirrocumulus includes a small amount of liquid water droplets, although these are in a supercooled state. Ice crystals are the predominant component, and typically, the ice crystals cause the supercooled water drops in the cloud to rapidly freeze, transforming the cirrocumulus into cirrostratus. This process can also produce precipitation in the form of a virga consisting of ice or snow. Thus, cirrocumulus clouds are usually short-lived. They usually only form as part of a short-lived transitional phase within an area of cirrus clouds and can also form briefly as a result of the breaking up of part of a cumulonimbus anvil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrostratus cloud</span>

Cirrostratus is a high-level, very thin, generally uniform stratiform genus-type of cloud. It is made out of ice-crystals, which are pieces of frozen water. It is difficult to detect and it can make halos. These are made when the cloud takes the form of thin cirrostratus nebulosus. The cloud has a fibrous texture with no halos if it is thicker cirrostratus fibratus. On the approach of a frontal system, the cirrostratus often begins as nebulous and turns to fibratus. If the cirrostratus begins as fragmented of clouds in the sky it often means the front is weak. Cirrostratus is usually located above 5.5 km (18,000 ft). Its presence indicates a large amount of moisture in the upper troposphere. Clouds resembling cirrostratus occasionally form in polar regions of the lower stratosphere. Polar stratospheric clouds can take on this appearance when composed of tiny supercooled droplets of water or nitric acid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus undulatus</span>

Cirrocumulus undulatus is a variety of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus undulatus is derived from Latin, meaning "diversified as with waves". They have a rippled appearance due to wind shear and usually cover only a small portion of the sky. They appear in bands as small patches or layers. Occasionally, they comprise two or more wave forms superposed upon one another. The individual cloudlets can either be circular or elongated in the direction of the rows.

Cirrus intortus is a variety of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus intortus is derived from Latin, meaning "twisted, wound". The variety of intortus clouds is specific to cirrus clouds, and they appear as interwound strands of cirrus clouds with a purely random pattern. The filaments are often curved in a very irregular pattern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrus fibratus</span> Type of cloud

Cirrus fibratus or also called Cirrus filosus is a species of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus fibratus is derived from Latin, meaning "fibrous". These clouds are similar to cirrus uncinus, commonly known as "mares' tails"; however, fibratus clouds do not have tufts or hooks at the end. The filaments are usually separate from one another.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrus floccus</span> Type of cloud

Cirrus floccus is a type of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus floccus is derived from Latin, meaning "a lock of wool". Cirrus floccus occurs as small tufts of cloud, usually with a ragged base. The cloud can have virga falling from it, but the precipitation does not reach the ground. The individual tufts are usually isolated from each other. At formation, the cirrus floccus clouds are bright white and can be mistaken for altocumulus clouds; however, after a few minutes, the brightness begins to fade, indicating they are made up of pure ice, and are therefore at a higher level.

Cirrus duplicatus is a variety of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus duplicatus is derived from Latin, meaning "double". The duplicatus variety of cirrus clouds occurs when there are at least two layers of cirrus clouds. Most of the time, occurrences of cirrus fibratus and cirrus uncinus are in the duplicatus form. Like stratus clouds, cirrus clouds are often seen in the duplicatus form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrus radiatus</span>

Cirrus radiatus is a variety of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus radiatus is derived from Latin, meaning "rayed, striped". This variety of cirrus clouds occurs in parallel bands that often cover the entire sky and appear to converge at a single point or two opposite points on the horizon. Cirrus radiatus is often partly made up of cirrocumulus or cirrostratus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrus vertebratus</span>

Cirrus vertebratus is a type of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus vertebratus is derived from Latin, meaning "jointed, articulated, vertebrated". Like cirrus intortus, the vertebratus species is exclusive to the cirrus genus. Cirrus vertebratus gives the impression of vertebrae in a spinal column, ribs, or a fish skeleton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus castellanus</span>

Cirrocumulus castellanus or Cirrocumulus castellatus is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. Castellanus is from the Latin meaning "of a castle". These clouds appear as round turrets that are rising from either a lowered line or sheet of clouds. Cirrocumulus castellanus is an indicator of atmospheric instability at the level of the cloud. The clouds form when condensation occurs in the base cloud, causing latent heating to occur. This causes air to rise from the base cloud, and if the air ascends into conditionally unstable air, cirrocumulus castellanus will form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus floccus</span>

Cirrocumulus floccus is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus floccus is derived from Latin, meaning "a lock of wool". Cirrocumulus floccus appears as small tufts of cloud with rounded heads, but ragged bottoms. The cloud can produce virga, precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground. Like cirrocumulus castellanus, cirrocumulus floccus is an indicator of atmospheric instability at the level of the cloud. In fact, cirrocumulus floccus can form from cirrocumulus castellanus, being the evolutionary state after the base of the original cloud has dissipated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus lenticularis</span>

Cirrocumulus lenticularis is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus lenticularis is derived from Latin, meaning "like a lentil". Cirrocumulus lenticularis are smooth clouds that have the appearance of a lens or an almond. They usually form at the crests of atmospheric waves, which would otherwise be invisible. This species of cirrocumulus can often be quite elongated and normally has very distinguished boundaries. Cirrocumulus lenticularis forms when stable air is forced upward; this is usually due to orographic features, but can occur away from mountains as well. Irisation can occasionally occur with these clouds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrocumulus stratiformis</span>

Cirrocumulus stratiformis is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus stratiformis is derived from Latin, meaning "stretched out". Cirrocumulus stratiformis occurs as very small cirrocumulus clouds that cover a large part of the sky. This type of cloud always occurs in thin layers. There can be spaces or rifts between the individual cloudlets in the layer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthropogenic cloud</span> Cloud induced or caused by human activity

A homogenitus, anthropogenic or artificial cloud is a cloud induced by human activity. Although most clouds covering the sky have a purely natural origin, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the use of fossil fuels and water vapor and other gases emitted by nuclear, thermal and geothermal power plants yield significant alterations of the local weather conditions. These new atmospheric conditions can thus enhance cloud formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altocumulus lacunosus cloud</span> Type of altocumulus cloud

Altocumulus lacunosus is a type of altocumulus cloud. The term lacunosus is from Latin, meaning "full of gaps". This type of cloud appears as holes present in an altocumulus cloud cover resembling a honeycomb. It is considered to be rare, since it is typically short-lived. Lacunosus cloud types forms when a layer of cold air and a layer of warmer air come in contact with each other. This then causes the cold air to sink in the form of localized downdrafts. These downdrafts then strike through the cloud and create the holes.

References

  1. Wolken-Online. "Cirrocumulus". Cloud Atlas. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  2. "Appendix 3 - History of cloud nomenclature".
  3. Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of stratus" . Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  4. "Cirrocumulus Lacunosus Cloud - EPOD - a service of USRA".
  5. Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification handbook (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. p. 67. ISBN   1-58574-857-9.
  6. Callanan, Martin. "Cirrocumulus lacunosus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  7. "Lacunosus". World Metereological Organization. wmo.int. Retrieved 1 April 2023. Definitions of clouds > Varieties > Lacunosus