Cirrocumulus floccus

Cirrocumulus floccus
Abbreviation	Cc flo
Symbol
Genus	Cirro- (curl of hair) -cumulus (heaped)
Species	floccus (flaked or puffy)
Altitude	Above 6,000 m (Above 20,000 ft)
Classification	Family A (High-level)
Appearance	small tufts
Precipitation cloud?	Occasionally virga
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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

List of cloud types

References

1. ^ Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of floccus". http://latinlexicon.org/definition.php?p1=1006366. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
2. ^ Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification handbook (1st Lyons Press ed. ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. pp. 66. ISBN 1585748579. http://books.google.com/books?id=BR2ft4G5TgQC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q=Cirrocumulus%20floccus&f=false. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
3. ^ Callanan, Martin. "Cirrocumulus floccus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. http://nephology.eu/cirrocumulus/cirrocumulus-floccus. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
4. ^ American Meteorological Society. "floccus". Glossary of Meteorology. http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=floccus1. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 

External links

International Cloud Atlas - Cirrocumulus floccus