Cirrus uncinus cloud

Type of cloud
Cirrus uncinus
Cirrus uncinus cloud
AbbreviationCi unc
GenusCirrus (curl)
Speciesuncinus (hook)
AltitudeAbove 7000 m
(Above 23,000 ft)
ClassificationFamily A (High-level)
Appearancecurly, hooked
PrecipitationNo, but may indicate precipitation approach.

Cirrus uncinus is a type of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus uncinus is derived from Latin, meaning "curly hooks". Also known as mares' tails, these clouds are generally sparse in the sky and very thin.[1]

The clouds occur at high altitudes, at a temperature of about −50 to −40 °C (−58 to −40 °F). They are generally seen when a warm or occluded front is approaching. They are very high in the troposphere and generally mean that precipitation, usually rain, is approaching.[2]

  • Cirrus uncinus clouds in Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
    Cirrus uncinus clouds in Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

See also

References

  1. ^ WMO. "Cirrus uncinus (Ci unc)". International Cloud Atlas. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  2. ^ "Learn About Cirrus Uncinus Clouds: Curved, Comma-shaped". whatsthiscloud. Retrieved 2019-06-25.

External links

  • International Cloud Atlas – Cirrus uncinus Archived 2022-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
  • v
  • t
  • e
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)
VarietiesVariants
  • v
  • t
  • e
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)


Stub icon

This cloud–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e