Cirrocumulus floccus

Cirrocumulus floccus
Cirrocumulus floccus clouds
AbbreviationCc flo
Symbol
GenusCirro- (curl)
-cumulus (heaped)
Speciesfloccus (lock of wool)
AltitudeAbove 6,000 m
(Above 20,000 ft)
ClassificationFamily A (High-level)
Appearancesmall tufts
PrecipitationOccasionally virga

Cirrocumulus floccus is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus floccus is derived from Latin, meaning "a lock of wool".[1] Cirrocumulus floccus appears as small tufts of cloud with rounded heads, but ragged bottoms. The cloud can produce virga, precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground.[2] Like cirrocumulus castellanus, cirrocumulus floccus is an indicator of atmospheric instability at the level of the cloud.[3] In fact, cirrocumulus floccus can form from cirrocumulus castellanus, being the evolutionary state after the base of the original cloud has dissipated.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of floccus". Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  2. ^ Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification flipbook (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. p. 66. ISBN 1-58574-857-9.
  3. ^ Callanan, Martin. "Cirrocumulus floccus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  4. ^ American Meteorological Society. "floccus". Glossary of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2011.


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