- Cirrus vertebratus
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Cirrus vertebratus 
Cirrus vertebratus cloudAbbreviation Ci ve Symbol 
Genus Cirrus (curl of hair) Species vertebratus (like a spinal column) Altitude Above 6,000 m
(Above 20,000 ft)Classification Family A (High-level) Appearance looks like a spinal column or a fish skeleton[1] Precipitation cloud? No Cirrus vertebratus is a type of cirrus cloud. The name cirrus vertebratus is derived from Latin, meaning "jointed, articulated, vertebrated".[2] Like cirrus intortus, the vertebratus species is exclusive to the cirrus genus.[3] Cirrus vertebratus gives the impression of vertebre in a spinal column ribs, or a fish skeleton.[4]
The species is an unusual form of Cirrus clouds and is formed by air moving parallel to the main cloud line. The gaps in the cloud occur where air is descending, while the "ribs" of the cloud correspond with areas of uplift. Their occurrence appears to be connected with the location of the jet stream.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Wolken Online. "Cirrus". Cloud Atlas. http://www.clouds-online.com/cloud_atlas/cirrus/cirrus.htm. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of vertebratus". http://latinlexicon.org/definition.php?p1=2062674. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification handbook (1st Lyons Press ed. ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. pp. 58. ISBN 1585748579. http://books.google.com/books?id=BR2ft4G5TgQC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q=vertebratus&f=false. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Callanan, Martin. "Cirrus vertebratus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. http://nephology.eu/cirrus/cirrus-vertebratus. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Wolstanton Weather. vertebratus "Cumulus Clouds". Clouds. http://www.wolstanton.org.uk/public_html/web_weather/web/gallery_clouds_cirrus.php#Cirrus vertebratus. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
External links
Cirrus cloud (Ci) types Species Cirrus castellanus (Ci cas) · Cirrus fibratus (Ci fib) · Cirrus floccus (Ci flo) · Cirrus spissatus (Ci spa) · Cirrus vertebratus (Ci ve) · Cirrus uncinus (Ci unc)Varieties Cirrus duplicatus (Ci du) · Cirrus intortus (Ci in) · Cirrus radiatus (Ci ra) · Cirrus undulatus (Ci un)Variants Cloud genuses Extreme-level High-level Medium-level Low-level Fog · Stratus (St) · Cumulus (Cu) · Stratocumulus (Sc) · Arcus (Roll) · Fractus · Funnel · Nimbostratus (Ns) · Shelf · Wall · Actinoform cloud · Undulatus asperatusVertical Cumulonimbus (Cb) · Cumulonimbus mammatus · Pyrocumulus · Pyrocumulonimbus · Overshooting top · AccessoryCategories:- Cloud types
- Atmospheric science stubs
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