© Amy Chan
Ejin, Inner Mongolia, China
Latitude: 41° 57' 31'' N
Longitude: 101° 4' 7'' E
11 October 2015 1437 (Local Time)
Image P/S code: P.2.12
Image I.D.: 5034
CL = 0, CM = 0, CH = 9
The image shows an extensive area of bright white cloud without shading, mostly formed from the spreading out of contrails. It is principally of the genus Cirrocumulus, consisting of small elements with an apparent width of less than 1°. Of most interest is the cloud at the top centre and top right of the image, where long-lasting aircraft contrails have gradually spread out, transforming mostly into Cirrocumulus homomutatus (1 and 2). Some elements are larger and suggestive of Cirrus floccus. At the top left there is Cirrus fibratus homomutatus. Some Cirrus spissatus is also visible in the distance.
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Virtually all of the cloud in this photograph is of anthropogenic origin (man-made), formed through the spreading out of aircraft contrails. Below and to the left of centre, the cloud filaments are largely straight (Cirrus fibratus) with an orientation from the top left towards the bottom right (1 and 2). Because of its anthropogenic origin, this is Cirrus fibratus homomutatus. The brighter streaks in the centre of the cloud filaments are remnants of the original contrails (3 and 4). The large arc of cloud lying diagonally across the image above and to the right of the centre has also originated from the spreading out of a contrail. It has parts composed of small rounded elements of less than 1° in width at 6 and 7, which is suggestive of Cirrocumulus. The patch of cloud on the far left also has these elements. Some natural Cirrus is in the sky as well; this is mostly thin and faint fibratus. In this image, there is a hint of some faint background cloud where the sky has a milky appearance, at the top right and top left of the picture (9 and 10).
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