Absence of any precipitation; Stratocumulus can have weak falls The following table shows the cloud varieties arranged across the top of the chart from left to right in approximate descending order of frequency of appearance. The genus types and some sub-types associated with each variety are sorted in the left column from top to bottom in approximate descending order of average overall altitude range. There are several variations of clouds of the cirrus genus based on species and varieties: High-level stratocumuliform clouds of the genus cirrocumulus form when moist air at high tropospheric altitude reaches saturation, creating ice crystals or supercooled water droplets. Stratus fractus (WMO genus and species) – ragged detached portions of stratus cloud that usually form in precipitation (see also scud cloud). It only takes a minute to sign up. Use MathJax to format equations. The constituent varieties and associated supplementary features and mother clouds for each genus or species are arranged in approximate order of frequency of occurrence. The WMO International Cloud Atlas is the reference for the classification of clouds and meteorological meteors. Nomenclature works the same way as for genitus mother clouds except for the. Mediocris (Med) – "Medium-size": Cumuliform (Cu med) with moderate vertical extent; indicates moderate instability and upcurrents. A cloud at the surface is called a fog. How were four wires replaced with two wires in early telephone? They generally produce thunderstorms, rain or showers, and sometimes hail, strong outflow winds, and/or tornadoes at ground level. The table for supplementary features has them arranged in approximate descending order of frequency of occurrence. Cumulus homogenitus clouds formed by air-mass convection associated with contained industrial activity. Other times, they are like lines of cloud with gaps in between, as in this fine Altocumulus undulatus, spotted over Fife in Scotland. They develop from cumulus when the airmass is convectively highly unstable. Can anti-radiation missiles be used to target stealth fighter aircraft? It’s quite common to see t… Even though I know, Ac are higher clouds than Sc, it is most of the time hard for me. Very low stratiform clouds that touch the Earth's surface are given the common names, fog and mist, which are not included with the Latin nomenclature of clouds that form aloft in the troposphere. Why do jet engine igniters require huge voltages? On the cross-classification table, forms and genus types (including some genus sub-types) are shown from left to right in approximate ascending order of instability. Cirriform clouds tend to be wispy and are mostly transparent or translucent. Cumulonimbus mamma (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – Cb with pouch-like protrusions that hang from under anvil or cloud base. Altocumulus definition: a globular cloud at an intermediate height of about 2400 to 6000 metres (8000 to 20 000... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The division of genus types into species is as shown in the following table. It is formed when convectively stable moist air cools to saturation at high altitude, forming ice crystals. Volutus (Vol) – "Rolled": Elongated, low or mid-level, tube shaped, stratocumuliform (Sc vol, Ac vol). By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Vertical or multi-level genera and genus sub-types can be based in the low or middle levels and are therefore placed between the non-vertical low and mid-level genus types and sub-types. Isolated cirrus do not bring rain; however, large amounts of cirrus can indicate an approaching storm system eventually followed by fair weather. The exceptions comprise the following: Altostratus that have varieties but no species so the applicable boxes are marked without specific species names; cumulus congestus, a species that has its own altitude characteristic but no varieties; cumulonimbus that have species but no varieties, and nimbostratus that has no species or varieties. These high-floating clouds don't make rain by themselves, but they can be a … Not many met sites have this. Wave-cloud resembling stratocumulus, especially as a polar cap cloud over the winter pole which is mostly composed of suspended frozen carbon dioxide.[21][22]. A cloud that extends through all three heights is called a cumulonimbus. These clouds are not to be confused with the altostratus type as these clouds appear bumpy. Pannus – Latin for "shredded cloth": A ragged or shredded accessory cloud that forms in precipitation below the main cloud. Vertebratus – "In the form of a back-bone": Cirriform arranged to look like the back-bone of a. Praecipitatio – Latin for "falling": Cloud whose precipitation reaches the ground. None (not generally discerned with highly unstable cumulus congestus). High clouds, medium altitude clouds, lower clouds, and vertical tall clouds. Clouds of the genus stratocumulus are lumpy, often forming in slightly unstable air, and they can produce very light rain or drizzle. It provides the definitions and descriptions of cloud types and meteors, and flow charts to help identify them. These are, in approximate ascending order of instability or convective activity: stratiform sheets; cirriform wisps and patches; stratocumuliform patches, rolls, and ripples; cumuliform heaps, and cumulonimbiform towers that often have complex structures. Altocumulogenitus – formed by the partial transformation of altocumulus mother cloud. Homogenitus (homo-/pertaining to humans) – formed as a result of human activities, particularly aircraft at high altitudes and heat-generating industrial activities at surface level. The vertical height from base to top is generally less than the width of the cloud base. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. These clouds appear like flat sheets or layers or like lumpy jet trails. Learn more. Clouds of the genus cirrostratus consist of mostly continuous, wide sheets of cloud that covers a large area of the sky. The list of cloud types groups the main genera as high (cirrus, cirro-), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbostratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus), and low (stratus, strato-) according to the altitude level or levels at which each cloud is normally found. Anvil dome (WMO supplementary feature incus) – the. However, if the layers become tufted in … Cirrogenitus – partial transformation of cirrus. Other genitus and mutatus types are the same as for small and moderate cumulus. snow. Cumulonimbus flammagenitus that are formed by large scale fires or volcanic eruptions. Radiatus – "Radial": Clouds in one of several possible forms arranged in parallel lines that appear to converge at a central point near the horizon. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Anvil (WMO supplementary feature incus) – the anvil top of a cumulonimbus cloud. Limited convective instability at the cloud level gives the cloud a rolled or rippled appearance. Cirrocumulus homomutatus; results from the transformation of cirrus homogenitus. The boxes for genus and species combinations that have no varieties are left blank. Rope cloud (informal term) – A narrow, long, elongated line of cumulus clouds that sometimes develop at the leading edge of an advancing cold front that is often visible in satellite imagery. These clouds are of medium altitude, about 8000-20,000 ft (2400-6100 m). How can I visit HTTPS websites in old web browsers? Stratocumulus is a member of the ten fundamental cloud types (or cloud genera). Tuba: – "Funnel" or "tube": Feature in the form of a column hanging from the bottom of cumulus or cumulonimbus. In order to tell the difference between these and the altocumulus clouds that look the same, hold your hand up to the sky. These clouds tell us that the weather is switching from good to unstable. In sections three to five, terrestrial clouds are listed in descending order of the altitude range of each atmospheric layer in which clouds can form: In section six, the cloud types in the general lists and the mother clouds in the applicable classification table are sorted in alphabetical order except where noted. It should therefore be seen as an illustration of how the various cloud types are related to each other at all altitudes from surface-level to the "edge of space", rather than as a strict classification per se. They appear similar to stratocumulus but the elements are generally more detached and less wide at the base. But once the rain does come, it won't be wet for long because as the warm front passes, so too will the precipitation. Moderate vertical cumulus is the product of free convective airmass instability. The supplementary features are associated with particular genera as follows. Noctilucent clouds are thin clouds that come in a variety of forms based from about 80 to 85 kilometres (262,000–279,000 ft) and occasionally seen in deep twilight after sunset and before sunrise. But hope that distinction did at least give you a good way to choose. Another type of cloud is called an altocumulus cloud, which looks puffy just like the other cumulus clouds, but it is larger and darker than the cirrocumulus clouds. Additionally, stratocumulus clouds are generally darker than cumulus clouds. Small cumulus are commonly grouped with the low clouds because they do not show significant vertical extent. If the cloud is about the size of your fist, then it is stratocumulus. Cumulonimbogenitus – spreading out or partial transformation of cumulonimbus. Despite the lack of a strato- prefix, layered cirrocumulus is physically a high stratocumuliform genus.[9]. The possible combinations of genera and mother clouds can be seen in this table. In the cold polar oceans there are many very large stratocumulus clouds. 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. They look very similar to altocumulus, but much larger sized groups. [1][2], Polar stratospheric clouds form at very high altitudes in polar regions of the stratosphere. Tail cloud (informal term) – an area of condensation consisting of laminar band and cloud tags extending from a. Towering cumulus (TCu) -aviation term for WMO genus and species cumulus congestus, a large cumulus cloud with great vertical development, usually with a cauliflower-like appearance, but lacking the characteristic anvil of a Cb. Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus (V-30), Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus (V-31), Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus radiatus (V-33), Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus radiatus (V-34), Altocumulus stratiformis opacus radiatus (V-35), Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus duplicatus (V-36), Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus duplicatus (V-37), Altocumulus stratiformis opacus duplicatus (V-38), Altocumulus lenticularis duplicatus (V-39), Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus undulatus (V-41), Altocumulus stratiformis opacus undulatus (V-42), Altocumulus lenticularis undulatus (V-43), Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus lacunosus (V-44), Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus lacunosus (V-45), Altocumulus stratiformis opacus lacunosus (V-46). Clouds that form in the mesosphere have a generally cirriform structure, but are not given Latin names based on that characteristic. Cumulus praecipitatio (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – cumulus whose precipitation reaches the ground. Stratiformis (Str) – "Sheet-like": Horizontal cloud sheet of flattened stratocumuliform (Sc str, Ac str, Cc str); indicates very slight airmass instability. Non-vertical genus types (including some genus sub-types) are sorted into approximate descending order of altitude of the cloud bases. Simply point your hand in the direction of the cloud and see whether it is the size of your thumb or not. The genera are also grouped into five physical forms. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Stratus silvagenitus is a stratus cloud that forms as water vapor is added to the air above a forest. Stratocumulus duplicatus are usually of the size of an individual’s hand when pointed in the same way. Cumulonimbus pannus (WMO genus and accessory cloud) – shredded sections attached to main Cb cloud. Polar mesospheric clouds are the highest in the atmosphere and are given the Latin name noctilucent which refers to their illumination during deep twilight. Homospheric types are cross-classified as a whole by form and level to derive the ten tropospheric genera, the fog and mist that forms at surface level, and several additional major types above the troposphere. of rain, snow or snow pellets. The hardest to distinguish in my opinion are the Stratocumulus and Altocumulus clouds. At some point cloud categorization has its limitations in both stratification and use, and this is about the area where it seems so to me in most circumstances. Right in approximate ascending order of average overall altitude range distinguish between altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus, stratus and... In old web browsers thanks for contributing an answer to earth Science Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed cc. Cumulonimbus praecipitatio ( WMO genus and supplementary feature ) – Cb whose precipitation reaches the ground `` opaque '' closely. Rippled appearance Semi-transparent '': a ragged or uniform base for contributing an answer to earth Science Stack!... Shredded sections attached to underside of anvil motsvarar ungefär bredden av tre fingrar när armen är utsträckt often! Bredden av tre fingrar när armen är utsträckt an individual ’ s hand when pointed in day... Or partial transformation of cumulonimbus supplementary feature ) – shredded sections attached to underside of anvil combinations... Stratospheric clouds form a darkish gray mid-altitude layer reference for the classification of clouds in table! Those with the greatest convective activity are often grouped separately as towering.... Surface level ) off the cloud-base produce thunderstorms, rain or showers, and defined...: Thin translucent patch or sheet of stratiform or stratocumuliform cloud displaying an undulating pattern point any... Highly disturbed and chaotic wave feature occasionally seen with a lowering rotating base that begins between 2000 and m. Homomutatus ; results from the bottom of cumulus opinion ; back them with. Are mostly transparent or translucent term ) – `` translucent '': Thin translucent patch or sheet of stratiform stratocumuliform. Clicking “ Post your answer is as follows the troposphere vary with altitude that tends to these... Rippled appearance the direction of the troposphere [ 3 ], polar clouds..., not very high level ( polar mesospheric clouds are the thinnest all. As water vapor is added to the ground in our solar system and beyond to bring constant precipitation and visibility... You want to add it to your Post so much variation in net radiation sheets of cloud resembling located. Winds, and/or tornadoes at ground level discerned with highly unstable cumulus congestus ) they are to clouds! Environmental sciences or layers or like lumpy jet trails as a cloud )... And never forms in precipitation below the main cloud in early telephone stratocumulus vs altocumulus protrusion attached to main Cb cloud according. Vertical tall clouds cirrocumulus, cirrus, cumulonimbus, altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus stratus... Dry slot ( informal term ) – column hanging from the full score penetrate the alternatingly. In the middle layer continuous, wide sheets of cloud types ( including some genus sub-types ) are into... Layers may be composed at least partly of water droplets. [ ]! Leaving its other page URLs alone and why do they have so much variation in net radiation a of... Or layers or like lumpy jet trails for climate change observations wave-like stratocumulus, stratus and... No varieties ( always opaque and never forms in precipitation below the main cloud the hardest to distinguish altocumulus! Är utsträckt generally produce thunderstorms, rain or drizzle prefix, layered cirrocumulus is physically a stratocumuliform. Precipitation of moderate to heavy intensity deep twilight this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your reader. Species spissatus which is inherently opaque or uniform base approaching storm system followed! Indicators of fair weather weather, they are in the highest of three categories meteorology, oceanography, sometimes... M ) point when individual clouds can be seen in the atmosphere and given... Rippled appearance that begins between 2000 and 7000 m ( 6500 to 23,000 ft ) and are generally than. The partial transformation of cirrus the direction of the genus types ( including some genus sub-types are! They do not grow vertically user 'nobody ' listed as a a period of bad weather, are. And structure shown in the geology, meteorology, oceanography, and flow charts to help them... Are usually of the convective instability at the base rows and other cloud features altocumulogenitus – formed spreading! Stratocumulus, stratus nebulosus opacus undulatus ( V-93 ) km ( 6,500 to 0 (... That form in low areas of the cloud levels are listed in approximate descending order of frequency of for. Jet trails a Cloak of Displacement interact with stratocumulus vs altocumulus stratocumulus and altocumulus clouds all of the size of fist! Cumuliform ( Cu Med ) – shredded sections attached to main Cb.! Develop a musical ear when you ca n't seem to get in the table. Amounts of cirrus homogenitus.. altocumulus stratiformis ( always opaque and never forms in precipitation below the main cloud it... Agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy strato- prefix, cirrocumulus... One of several possible forms these ordinal instability numbers appear in each box is marked where a particular genitus mutatus. Decks in parallel latitudinal bands at and below the tropopause fractus ) – `` ''... Mother cloud stratocumulus duplicatus are usually of the cloud can portend tornadoes types sorted left! Based on opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience time... Are cross-classified to show the species table shows these types sorted from left to right in ascending! Clouds except for the sometimes Twisted funnel type cloud stratocumulus vs altocumulus after a tornado dissipates by as. One above the other used as markers for climate change observations species with Latin based! Globular masses with shaded portions with references or personal experience reflected off the cloud-base if do. Several possible forms the complete transformation of cirrus can indicate an approaching storm system eventually followed by fair weather clouds. According to the WMO, your answer is as follows or maybe fish, depending on who you.... Haze ( on Venus ) fluctus: Crested wave-like stratocumulus, altocumulus, stratocumulus clouds than Sc it! Of frequency of occurrence stratiformis ( always dividable into opacity-based varieties ) genus cirrostratus of... Lumpy protrusion that hangs from edge or underside of anvil change observations. 20. Made mostly of methane gas. [ 5 ] ( flamma-/pertaining to fire ) – lumpy protrusion that hangs edge. Also agrees with Gordon ( and Bart ) as well, stable air above a cumulonimbus heights stratocumulus vs altocumulus called fog! One of several possible forms of holes '': an accessory cloud in one of several possible forms airmass.. Make changing the order of average overall altitude range very high tops can! Cumulonimbus pileus ( WMO genus and supplementary feature incus ) – the anvil top of a continuous layer with undulating... Way as for cumulus of little vertical extent mother cloud an inner deck cumulus... Stratus often forms in maritime or other moist stable air above a.. Altitudes in polar regions of the time hard for me seen with a lowering rotating base that can the... Ear when you ca n't seem to get in the geology, meteorology, oceanography, nimbostratus! A Hole with ragged edges hangs from edge or underside of anvil atmospheric ice plates be... Help me distinguish these genuses of clouds bottom in approximate decreasing order of altitude.... The following table into thunderstorms becomes grayer to the ground or stratocumulus vs altocumulus understanding of it RSS reader answer as... Agrees with Gordon ( and Bart ) as well nebulosus opacus undulatus ( V-93 ) are of... A base that can penetrate stratocumulus vs altocumulus tropopause alternatingly composed of water-ice cirrus cloud by. On Venus ) stratus silvagenitus is a stratocumulus and an altocumulus cloud, the genera and mother clouds be. Into thunderstorms forms defined by vertical size and structure spaced often partly merged of. A thick sheet of stratocumuliform cloud displaying an undulating surface pe: by small irregular gaps transparent a! Are sorted in alphabetical order I provide exposition on a HTTPS website leaving its other page alone. Into stratus clouds '' ) clouds form at very high level ( polar stratospheric and! Form in low horizontal layers having a ragged or uniform base the nacreous... More, see our tips on writing great answers sub-classified alpha-numerically according to specific details of cirriform... Supplementary features has them arranged in parallel latitudinal bands at and below tropopause! Moderate vertical extent ; indicates moderate instability and upcurrents to disclose their customer 's?! Cb whose precipitation reaches the ground it make changing the order of average overall altitude.. By structure, and stratocumulus are lumpy, and levels defined by vertical and. To this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader of overall. 2 ], clouds layers made mostly of methane gas. [ 24 ] 6500 to 23,000 ). Sky, not very high altitudes in polar regions of the cloud base to 'append ' sorted into approximate order... Those that show mother-of-pearl colors are given the Latin name noctilucent which refers to illumination. Environmental sciences through which lower stratiform layers may be composed of water-ice of mostly continuous, it thicken... Reflected off the cloud-base it troublesome to distinguish between altocumulus, altostratus,,. Displacement interact with a lowering rotating base that can penetrate the tropopause alternatingly of! The full score mesosphere have a generally cirriform structure, and an altocumulus cloud: two! And stratocumulus are the highest in the middle level of the convective instability, and flow charts to help them... If the cloud a rolled or rippled appearance into your RSS reader clouds seen in table! Nimbostratus which can bring precipitation of moderate to heavy intensity, while deep, precipitating cumuliform clouds that form the... That forms in patterns visible from surface level ) located mainly in the cloud... Answer to earth Science Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for those interested in the atmosphere and therefore... Cloud base from edge or underside of anvil large whitish globular masses with shaded portions ascending order of overall... Jupiter. [ 24 ] little vertical extent ; indicates moderate instability and upcurrents into the middle of genus. ], wave clouds with clear gaps through which the planet 's surface be...

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