VI.

ALTOCUMULUS

Altocumulus (From Latin Altus, "high", cumulus, "heaped")[1] 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.[2] However, if the layers become tufted in
appearance due to increased airmass instability, then the
altocumulus clouds become more purely cumuliform in structure.
Like other cumuliform and stratocumuliform clouds, altocumulus
signifies convection. A sheet of partially conjoined altocumulus
perlucidus is sometimes found preceding a weakening warm front,
where the altostratus is starting to fragment, resulting in patches of
altocumulus perlucidus between the areas of altostratus.
Altocumulus is also commonly found between the warm and cold
fronts in a depression, although this is often hidden by lower clouds.

Towering altocumulus, known as altocumulus castellanus, frequently

signals the development of thunderstorms later in the day, as it
shows instability and convection in the middle levels of the
troposphere, the area where towering cumulus clouds can turn into
cumulonimbus.[3] It is therefore one of three warning clouds often
recorded by the aviation industry, the other two being towering
cumulus and cumulonimbus.[3] Altocumulus generally forms about
2,000 to 6,100 meters (6,600 to 20,000 ft) above ground level, a
similar level to altostratus formations, and satellite photography has
revealed that the two types of cloud can create formations that can
stretch for thousands of square miles.[4] Extensive altocumulus
formations, particularly if they take the form of undulatus are often
referred to as altocumulus mackerel sky.

Species: Altocumulus has four species. The stratiformis species (Ac

str) is composed of sheets or relatively flat patches of
stratocumuliform cloud. The synoptic coding is determined by the
predominant variety or occasionally by the genitus mother cloud.
Altocumulus lenticularis (Ac len lenticular cloud) is a lens-shaped
middle cloud which can resemble flying saucers and may occasionally
be mistaken for "unidentified flying objects". This is formed by uplift
usually associated with mountains. but usually with at least some
grey shading. It is coded CM4 on the SYNOP weather observation.
Grey shading is also seen with altocumulus castellanus (Ac cas), a
turreted middle cloud that can achieve significant vertical
development and signals increasing airmass instability. It is
nevertheless usually classified as middle rather than vertical and is
coded CM8. The floccus species (Ac flo) is a tufted middle cloud
which is also associated with greater instability. It shares the same
code CM8. Chaotic altocumulus, which is typically poorly defined
with multiple species or transitional forms arranged in several
layers,[5] is coded CM9.

Opacity-based varieties: Altocumulus stratiformis has three opacity-

based varieties; Translucidus (CM3), perlucidus (CM3 or 7 depending
on predominant opacity), and opacus (CM7). Varieties based on
opacity are not commonly associatied with the species lenticularis,
castellanus, or floccus.

Pattern-based varieties: Radiatus (arranged in parallel bands) is

sometimes seen with the stratformis and castellanus species.
Altocumulus stratiformis radiatus of any opacity is coded CM5 if it is
increasing in amount. The duplicatus or undulatus varieties are
occasionally seen with the stratiformis and lenticularis species.[6]
Altocumulus stratiformis duplicatus is coded CM7 if it is not
overridden by another coding of higher importance. Lacunosus is
very occasionally associated with altocumulus of the species
stratiformis, castellanus, or floccus.

Precipitation-based supplementary feature: Altocumulus often

produces virga but usually not precipitation that reaches the ground.

Cloud-based supplementary feature: Mamma caused by localized

downdrafts in the cloud layer are occasionally seen with
altocumulus.[7] A newly recognized type is the asperitus feature that
is characterized by chaotic undulations caused by severe wind shear.

Genitus Mother clouds: Altocumulus stratiformis cumulogenitus or

cumulonimbogenitus can form when the middle or upper part of a
towering free convective cloud begins to spread horizontally due to a
loss of convective lift. It is coded CM6.

Mutatus mother clouds: Altocumulus can form due to the complete

transformation of cirrocumulus, altostratus, nimbostratus, or
stratocumulus.
1. Altocumulus stratiformis
(Altocumulus stratiformis undulatus)

2. Altocumulus castellanus
3. Altocumulus lenticularis
4. Altocumulus floccus
 VII. ALTOSTRATUS

Altostratus is a middle altitude cloud genus belonging to the

stratiform physical category characterized by a generally uniform
gray to bluish-green and sheet or layer.[3] It is lighter in color than
nimbostratus and darker than high cirrostratus. The sun can be
seen through thin altostratus, but thicker layers can be quite
opaque.

Altostratus undulatus
Altostratus is formed by the lifting of a large mostly stable air mass
that causes invisible water vapor to condense into cloud. It can
produce light precipitation, often in the form of virga. If the
precipitation increases in persistence and intensity, the altostratus
cloud may thicken into nimbostratus.[2]
Altostratus most often takes the form of a featureless sheet of
cloud but can be wavy (undulatus) as a result of wind shear
through the cloud. It can also be fragmented (fibratus) with clear
sky visible, which often the approach of a weakened or upper level
warm front.

Description[edit]
Altostratus may be composed of ice crystals. In some ice crystal
altostratus, very thin, rapidly disappearing horizontal sheets of
water droplets appear at random.[4] The sizes of the ice crystals in
the cloud tended to increase as altitude decreased. However, close
to the bottom of the cloud, the particles decreased in size again.
During the sampling of one cloud, the scientists noted a halo while
flying near the top of the cloud, which indicated that the ice
crystals were hexagonal near the top. However, farther down, the
ice crystals became more conglomerated.[5][6]
Occurrence[edit]
Altostratus tends to form ahead of a warm or occluded front, the
altostratus gradually thickening into rain bearing nimbostratus.
However it can also occur together with cumulus congestus or
cumulonimbus at a cold front.
Subtypes[edit]
Species: Altostratus is not divided into species because it is always
nebulous or featureless in structure.[7]
Opacity-based varieties: Altocumulus translucidus is relatively thin
so that the sun or moon is always visible as if seen through frosted
glass. It is strictly a middle cloud and is coded CM1 in the SYNOP
report. The opacus variety is sufficiently thick to obscure the sun or
moon and can extend vertically into the high étage. It is therefore
sometimes classified as vertical or multi-level, but is still coded
CM2 as a middle cloud.
Pattern-based varieties: Radiatus, duplicatus, and undulatus are all
occasionally associated with altostratus.[8]
Precipitation-based supplementary features: Altostratus opacus
can be thick enough to produce both virga or praecipitatio
features.
Cloud-based supplementary feature: Mamma may be occasionally
seen with altostratus, especially if it is associated with or changing
to or from altocumulus.
Accessory cloud: Pannus forming in precipitation is sometimes
seen with altostratus[9] and is coded CL7.
Genitus mother clouds: Altostratus altocumulogenitus forms due
to the fusing of altocumulus elements. Altostratus
cumulonimbogenitus results from the spreading of the middle part
of a cumulonimbus cloud.
Mutatus mother clouds: Cirrostratus can thicken into altostratus
cirrostratomutatus, usually ahead of an approaching disturbance.
Nimbostratus associated with an organized weather system may
lift and change into to altostratus nimbostratomutatus, especially
if the disturbance is weakening or moving out of a particular area.
"Velum" This is considered a type of cumulonimbus cloud so it is
not listed.

1. Altostratus opacus
2. Altostratus tranlucidus
3. Altostratus undulatus
4. Altostratus duplicatus