Cirrus floccus

Type of cloud
Cirrus floccus
Cirrus floccus clouds
AbbreviationCi flo
Symbol
GenusCirrus (curl)
Speciesfloccus (lock of wool)
AltitudeAbove 5,000 m
(Above 16,500 ft)
ClassificationFamily A (High-level)
Appearancesmall tufts
PrecipitationNone

Cirrus floccus is a type of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus floccus is derived from Latin, meaning "a lock of wool".[1] 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.[2] The individual tufts are usually isolated from each other.[3] 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.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of floccus". Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  2. ^ Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification handbook (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. p. 57. ISBN 1-58574-857-9.
  3. ^ Callanan, Martin. "Cirrus floccus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  4. ^ Institute of Atmospheric Sciences at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. "Cirrus (floccus)". A Guide to the Sky. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.

External links

  • International Cloud Atlas - Cirrus floccus Archived 2020-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
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Cirrus cloud (Ci) types
Species
  • Cirrus castellanus (Ci cas)
  • Cirrus fibratus (Ci fib)
  • Cirrus floccus (Ci flo)
  • Cirrus spissatus (Ci spa)
  • Cirrus uncinus (Ci unc)
Varieties
Variants
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Cloud genera and selected species, supplementary features, and other airborne hydrometeors - WMO Latin terminology except where indicated
Mesospheric
Extreme-level
80–85 km
Noctilucent (NLC)
Polar mesospheric clouds
  • Noctilucent type I veils
  • Noctilucent type II bands
  • Noctilucent type III billows
  • Noctilucent type IV whirls
Stratospheric
Very high-level
15–30 km
Nacreous polar stratospheric clouds (PSC)
  • Cirriform nacreous
  • Lenticular nacreous
Nitric acid and water
polar stratospheric clouds (PSC)
  • No differentiated sub-types; tends to resemble cirrostratus
Tropospheric
High-level
3–18 km
Cirrus (Ci)
Species
Ci-only varieties
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
Species
Cirrostratus (Cs)
Species
High-level-only
mutatus cloud
  • Mutatus non-height specific (see below)
Medium-level
2–8 km
Altocumulus (Ac)
Species
Altostratus (As)
Nimbostratus (Ns)
Multi-level
Varieties
Low-level
0–2 km
Cumulonimbus (Cb)
Towering vertical
Species
Cb-only supplementary features
Cb-only accessories and other
Cumulus (Cu)
Variable vertical extent
Species
Other
Stratus (St)
Species
St-only genitus cloud and other
Stratocumulus (Sc)
Species
Low-level-only
supplementary features
Low-level-only
accessory cloud and other
Non-height
specific
Varieties
Supplementary features
Mother clouds
and human-made clouds
  • (Mother cloud)+genitus (e.g. cumulogenitus (cugen)
  • (Mother cloud)+mutatus (e.g. cumulomutatus (cumut)
  • Homogenitus (hogen)
  • Homomutatus (homut)


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