Earth:Altocumulus stratiformis
Altocumulus stratiformis is the most common species of the Altocumulus genus of clouds.[1] They tend to form broad layers of individual, cell-like clumps, often separated from each other, though they sometimes can coagulate into a larger individual cloud. They often have a vertical extent of less than 500 m.[2] Due to their formation dynamics, they are commonly associated with the imminent arrival of precipitation.
Formation
The presence of stratiformis clouds in the mid-levels of the atmosphere is indicative of some instability at that level;[3] atmospheric pressure falls, often associated with nearby systems of low pressure, can depress the altitude of stratiformis into the lower atmosphere, often evolving into Nimbostratus clouds, which precipitate. [4] Altocumulus stratiformis clouds may also form when a cold front is approaching, due to the difference in air masses.
References
- ↑ "Altocumulus stratiformis (Ac str)". https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/species-altocumulus-stratiformis-ac-str.html.
- ↑ "Altocumulus Stratiformis Clouds - EPOD - a service of USRA". https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2004/06/altocumulus-stratiformis-clouds.html.
- ↑ "Altocumulus clouds". https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/clouds/mid-level-clouds/altocumulus.
- ↑ "Nimbostratus Clouds: dark, low-level clouds with precipitation". http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/lw/nbstr.rxml.
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