Stratocumulus castellanus | |
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![]() Stratocumulus castellanus, with various turrets of very small size and one of a larger size | |
Abbreviation | Sc cas |
Symbol | ![]() |
Genus | Stratocumulus |
Species | Castellanus |
Altitude | Above 2,000 m (Above 6,560 ft) |
Appearance | small turrets |
Precipitation | Virga, and sometimes light rain |
Stratocumulus castellanus or Stratocumulus castellatus [1] is a type of stratocumulus cloud. Castellanus is derived from Latin, meaning 'of a castle.' Clouds of this type appear as cumuliform turrets vertically rising from a common horizontal cloud base. These turrets are taller than they are wide. [2]
The presence of stratocumulus castellanus clouds indicates an increasingly unstable atmosphere, [3] and seeing this type of cloud in the morning usually means that there is a possibility of thunderstorms forming later in the afternoon. [4] In the right conditions, these clouds can grow into cumulus congestus clouds and, sometimes, into cumulonimbus clouds. [5]
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: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)