Stratocumulus cloud
A stratocumulus cloud 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. Weak convec…
What are stratocumulus clouds?
You might consider stratocumulus clouds a mix of stratus clouds and cumulus clouds. Hence the name (strato- and cumulo- are latin for layer and heap, respectively). They’re a layer of puffy clouds, and can usually be found joined together, similar to altocumulus clouds.
What are stratiform clouds composed of?
Stratocumulus and stratus clouds ( Figures 14 and 15, respectively) are low-based (below 2 km AGL), shallow ‘stratiform’ clouds. They are almost always less than 1 km thick. They are composed of droplets unless the cloud top is cooler than about −5 to −10 °C in which case ice crystals may form.
What are clouds made up of?
All clouds are made up of basically the same thing: water droplets or ice crystals that float in the sky. But all clouds look a little bit different from one another, and sometimes these differences can help us predict a change in the weather.
What are Altocumulus clouds made of?
Altocumulus clouds have several patchy white or gray layers, and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples. They are lower than cirrus clouds, but still quite high. They are made of liquid water, but they don’t often produce rain.
How is a stratocumulus cloud formed?
How do stratocumulus clouds form? Stratocumulus clouds usually form from a layer of stratus cloud breaking up. They are indicators of a change in the weather and are usually present near a warm, cold or occluded front.
What is unique about stratocumulus cloud formation?
Stratocumulus clouds differ from stratus clouds because they have a rather lumpy appearance at cloud base with darker and lighter regions due to embedded weak convection. Also their bases tend to be higher, and more irregular in height than those of stratus clouds.
What type of weather does stratocumulus clouds bring?
Most often, stratocumulus produce no precipitation, and when they do, it is generally only light rain or snow. However, these clouds are often seen at either the front or tail end of worse weather, so they may indicate storms to come, in the form of thunderheads or gusty winds.
What is the difference between altocumulus and stratocumulus?
Stratocumulus VS Altocumulus The main difference between the two comes from the altitude of the clouds. Stratocumulus clouds tend to be much closer to the ground than altocumulus clouds which usually makes stratocumulus clouds seem both darker and bigger than altocumulus clouds.
Does stratocumulus clouds bring rain?
Stratocumulus Clouds. Stratocumulus clouds like these are often associated with rain or other types of precipitation. They are fluffy and relatively low to the ground.
Where are stratocumulus clouds located in the atmosphere?
Marine stratocumulus clouds (MSCs) typically lie at low-altitudes below 6,000 feet, covering about 20 percent of the low-latitude oceans, or 6.5 percent of the Earth's surface.
What is the altitude of a stratocumulus cloud?
between 1,000 and 4,000ftStratocumulus. This cloud often occurs at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,000ft, though sometimes may be higher. While not generally producing precipitation these clouds may produce drizzle, particularly in hilly or coastal areas, and may be thick enough to obscure the sun or moon.
Which cloud is known as high cloud?
1) High Clouds They are also known as Cirrus Clouds. They are usually thin and are made up of ice.
Overview
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 ai…
Description
Vast areas of subtropical and polar oceans are covered with massive sheets of stratocumulus. These may organize into distinctive patterns which are currently under active study. In subtropics, they cover the edges of the horse latitude climatological highs, and reduce the amount of solar energy absorbed in the ocean. When these drift over land the summer heat or winter cold is reduced. '…
Species
Stratocumulus Stratiformis are extensive flat but slightly lumpy sheets that show only minimal convective activity.
Stratocumulus Lenticularis are separate flat elongated seed-shaped clouds. They are typical for polar countries or warmer climate during winter seasons. They also can be formed by winds passing hills or mountains, such as Foehn winds, and in this case they can be very regularly shap…
Opacity-based varieties
Stratocumulus Opacus is a dark layer of clouds covering entire sky without any break. However, the cloud sheet is not completely uniform, so that separate cloud bases still can be seen. This is the main precipitating type, however any rain is usually light. If the cloud layer becomes grayer to the point when individual clouds cannot be distinguished, stratocumulus turn into stratus clouds.
Stratocumulus Perlucidus is a layer of stratocumulus clouds with small spaces, appearing in irre…
Pattern-based varieties
Stratocumulus Undulatus clouds appear as nearly parallel waves, rolls or separate elongated clouds, without significant vertical development.
Stratocumulus Radiatus clouds appear as the same as stratocumulus undulatus, but stratocumulus undulatus move perpendicular to the wind shear, while stratocumulus radiatus move parallel to the wind shear.
Stratocumulus Undulatus clouds appear as nearly parallel waves, rolls or separate elongated clouds, without significant vertical development.
Stratocumulus Radiatus clouds appear as the same as stratocumulus undulatus, but stratocumulus undulatus move perpendicular to the wind shear, while stratocumulus radiatus move parallel to the wind shear.
Supplementary feature
Stratocumulus Mamma is a type of mammatus cloud.
Stratocumulus Asperitas is a rare, newly recognized supplementary feature that presents itself as chaotic, wavy undulations appearing in the base of a stratocumulus cloud cover. It is thought these clouds are formed by severe wind shear.
Stratocumulus Fluctus is also a rare, newly recognized supplementary feature in which short-live…
Precipitation-based supplementary features
Stratocumulus Virga is a form of precipitation that evaporates in mid-air and doesn't reach the ground.
Stratocumulus Praecipitatio is a form of precipitation that reaches the ground as light rain or snow.
• Stratocumulus stratiformis opacus radiatus praecipitatio
Mother clouds
Stratocumulus Cumulomutatus the specific type of stratocumulus clouds, are flat and elongated. They form in the evening, when updrafts caused by convection decrease making cumulus clouds lose vertical development and spread horizontally. They also can occur under altostratus cloud preceding a warm or occluded front, when cumulus usually lose vertical development as the sun's heat decreases. Like all other forms of stratocumulus apart from castellanus, they are also ofte…