Altocumulus castellanus cloud
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Abbreviation | Ac |
|---|---|
| Genus | Altocumulus (high, heaped) |
| Species | castellanus (castle) |
| Altitude | 2,000 - 6,000 m (6,500 - 20,000 ft) |
| Classification | Family B (Medium-level) |
| Precipitation Cloud? | No, but could signify later precip. |
Altocumulus castellanus is named for its tower-like projections that billow upwards from the base of the cloud. The base of the cloud can form as low as 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), or as high as 6,000 metres (20,000 feet).
Castellanus clouds are evidence of mid-atmospheric instability and a high mid-altitude lapse rate. They may be a harbinger of bad weather and, if surface-based convection can connect to the mid-tropospheric unstable layer, continued development of castellanus clouds can produce cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms.
Altocumulus Castellanus clouds can indicate rough turbulence for aircraft.
The appearance of Altocumulus Castellanus on a sunny morning announce with high probability the formation of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
[edit] External link
|
|
|
|---|---|
| High Clouds (Family A): | Cirrus (Ci) • Cirrus uncinus • Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz colombia • Cirrostratus (Cs) • Cirrocumulus (Cc) • Pileus • Contrail |
| Middle Clouds (Family B): | Altostratus (As) • Altostratus undulatus • Altocumulus (Ac) • Altocumulus undulatus • Altocumulus mackerel sky • Altocumulus castellanus cloud • Altocumulus lenticularis |
| Low Clouds (Family C): | Stratus (St) • Nimbostratus (Ns) • Cumulus humilis (Cu) • Cumulus mediocris (Cu) • Stratocumulus (Sc) |
| Vertical Clouds (Family D): | Cumulonimbus (Cb) • Cumulonimbus incus • Cumulonimbus calvus • Cumulonimbus with mammatus • Cumulus congestus • Pyrocumulus • Pyrocumulonimbus |
 |
This climatology/meteorology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
