Information about Altocumulus Clouds
coach outlet onlineThe name Altocumulus (Ac) comes from the Latin words altus meaning high and cumulus meaning mass or heap.
Altocumulus clouds are small round patches of clouds with convective characteristics. They come in various shapes and their degrees of transparency vary. They generally look like rounded masses and sometimes like rows of clouds. They are either white or gray in color. They have a thickness of around one kilometer and are mostly seen in a settled weather. They normally constitute water droplets and sometimes ice crystals. They are formed when water droplets from the sea or ground are carried up by the wind to higher atmosphere levels. Cool air at the higher altitudes causes condensation of water droplets in the air, and the clouds are formed.
Altocumulus clouds may tell about unstable weather conditions in the morning and high convection later in the day. They are easily seen in the sky, and can be seen in any part of the world. On the basis of their shape and internal structure, these clouds are classified into various species. On the basis of their degree of opacity, they are classified into certain varieties.
Altocumulus Stratiformis (Ac str)
real cheap jordansThese clouds appear like flat sheets or layers or like lumpy jet trails. They are the thinnest of all the altocumulus clouds. These clouds tell us that the weather is switching from good to unstable. After a period of bad weather, they are the last clouds seen in the sky. It's quite common to see these clouds, and they can be seen all over the world.
The altocumulus stratiformis clouds are formed when stable winds at the ground level carry moist air to higher altitudes. If these winds are gentle, they allow the water particles to be carried beyond the lower altitude levels. After reaching a medium height, strong winds cause the water particles to form these clouds.
These clouds are formed at a height of 6,000 to 20,000 feet.
As they form at the higher levels, they are made up of ice crystals and hence, reflect more light. As a result, they are easily visible in the sky.
cheap real jordansAltocumulus stratiformis are usually of three varieties: translucidus, perlucidus and opacus. The duplicatus, undulatus, radiatus, and lacunosus varieties are also seen with stratiformis.
Altocumulus Lenticularis (Ac len)
coach factory outletThese clouds are formed in the shape of a lens or an almond. They sometimes appear like piles of plates, flying saucers, a cake, or as giant lids above the mountains. These clouds bring light rain or snow. They are formed over high mountains in any part of the world.
cheap real jordansThe altocumulus lenticularis clouds are usually formed when moist air blows over the mountains. Winds carrying air surge up over one side of a mountain and the moisture in the air condenses to form clouds. As the wind comes down the other side of the mountain, it warms up. The water in the cloud converts back to water vapor because warm air can hold the vapor. This constant wind motion over the mountains leads to the formation of lenticular clouds.
They are formed at a height of 6500 to 16,500 feet.
coach factory onlineThe varieties duplicatus or undulatus are seen with the altocumulus lenticularis.
coach factory onlineAltocumulus Castellanus (Ac cas)
These clouds resemble the turrets of castles. As they indicate instability in the middle layers of the atmosphere, they may indicate a thunderstorm. These clouds aren't a threat to the safety of aircraft traveling through them. However, pilots experience instability when traveling through these clouds. They are seen in higher mountain ranges, over large inland lakes, during the spring and summer months, and when the wind at the ground level is not very strong.
The altocumulus castellanus clouds form because of atmospheric convection and are mid level clouds. This happens due to air instability due to the slow rising of warm, moist air coming from the cold frontal system. Following this, clouds with surges or waves start developing from the main deck and condensation within air pockets leads to the castellanus effect.
polo outlet onlineThey form at the heights of about 7,000 to 18,000 feet.
The variety radiatus is seen with castellanus. The variety lacunosus is also seen, but rarely.
In Latin, the word floccus means lock of wool. These clouds look like puffs of cotton or wool. They have ragged bases and rounded heads. The colors of these clouds vary from white to a grayish opaque. The sky is not visible beyond the altocumulus floccus clouds, as they are opaque. They bring rain or snow. They can be seen anywhere in the world.
coach outlet store onlineThe altocumulus floccus clouds are normally formed when there is unstable mixing of warm and cold air.
coach factory onlineThe warmer the climate is at a specific place, the higher the cloud's base.
These clouds are usually formed at about 6,500 to 13,000 feet.
The variety lacunosus is seen with altocumulus floccus clouds.
They appear as parallel bands of clouds. They usually have a main body from which wisps of the cloud radiate. The color of these clouds is either white or gray. These clouds are very common. They are mostly seen in the temperate zones. These clouds cause frosting on the wings and other parts of planes because they normally contain a large amount of moisture in the form of ice, water, or snow.
coach outlet onlineThe altocumulus radiatus clouds are formed when air with moisture is forced to move to the upper atmosphere. Here, the cold air forces the liquid within the air to condense, forming particles that make the clouds.
coach factory onlineThey are formed at a height between 6,000 and 16,000 feet above sea level.
Clouds with tiny droplets of water or ice within them disperse light. This means that the clouds will appear dark. Clouds with larger droplets will allow more light to pass through. Hence they will look whiter than those with smaller droplets.
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