To begin with, it should be mentioned that the Latin names of clouds are explained in more detail in the following sections. Clouds in the middle layer usually begin with the Latin word “alto”, which means “high”. Actually, this expression is not correct at first glance, as these clouds are not in the upper layer, but in the middle layer. The pharmacist Luke Howard (1772-1864) divided clouds into three basic forms: stratus clouds, cumulus clouds and veil clouds. According to this scheme, stratus and cumulus clouds do not occur in the upper layer. So, trivially, cumulus and stratus clouds in the middle layer are to be described as “high”, which justifies the term “alto”. Some important types of clouds are described below.
Schematic representation of the cloud layers. The middle layer, discussed in today’s blog, is framed in red.
Schematic representation of the cloud layers. The middle layer discussed in today’s blog is framed in red. (MeteoSwiss)
cloud type Altostratus
Stratus means “to expand, to spread out, to cover with a layer”. Altostratus is therefore a layered cloud. It occurs frequently in winter, especially with warm fronts. The sliding of the warm air, which is usually stable and layered in winter, onto the cold air in front of it often causes a compact layered cloud. Depending on the thickness of the layer, altostratus can be divided into different types. A relatively thin altostratus still allows the sun to shine through and is therefore called altostratus translucidus (translucent).
A type of cloud that often occurs with warm fronts is altostratus sweden phone number library translucidus. It allows the sun to shine through diffusely.
cloud type Altocumulus
Cumulus means “accumulation”. In contrast to altostratus, altocumulus is bound to unstable layers. It often has a cellular appearance and is often referred to as fleecy clouds by laypeople in this context. Altocumulus has many different types and subtypes, two of which are described below.
Yesterday, the cloud type Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus perlucidus was visible over the sky in Uerikon. These “fleece clouds” have a small structure. This often indicates that these clouds are very high and are actually already in the transition to the high layer.
Yesterday, the cloud type Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus perlucidus was visible over the sky in Uerikon. These “fleece clouds” have a small structure. This often indicates that these clouds are very high and are actually already in the transition to the high layer. (Meteo reports/app)
Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus perlucidus
This is the classic fluffy cloud. Stratiformis means that this cloud has large parts of the sky covered in layers. This is a little confusing at first, as it is not a layered cloud. However, as this “fluffy cloud” is only slightly thick, it can definitely be described as a thin layer. Translucidus means that the sun can shine through this cloud. Perlucidus indicates that this cloud has gaps with blue sky.
This morning you could see beautiful “fleece clouds” in webinar on border crossing and the right to liberty Elm. In technical jargon, this type of cloud is called altocumuls translucidus because it allows the sun to shine through.
This morning you could see beautiful “fleece clouds” in Elm. In adb directory technical jargon, this type of cloud is called altocumuls translucidus because it allows the sun to shine through. (Meteo reports/app)
Altocumuls lenticularis
Lenticularis means lens-shaped. These clouds often appear during foehn winds. This cloud shape is actually more closely associated with stable layers of air. When stable air masses cross a mountain range, there is a vertical deflection at the mountain ridge and then, due to the stability, vibrations downstream. This creates wave crests and troughs. If the humidity is high enough, clouds form in the wave crests that have a lens-shaped appearance.