Cirrocumulus floccus
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]
| 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) |
| Appearance | small tufts |
| Precipitation cloud? | Occasionally virga |
See also
References
- Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of floccus". Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification flipbook (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. p. 66. ISBN 1-58574-857-9.
- Callanan, Martin. "Cirrocumulus floccus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- American Meteorological Society. "floccus". Glossary of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
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