© Rubén del Campo-Hernández
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Latitude: 28° 28' 51'' N
Longitude: 16° 14' 45'' W
05 September 2014 1914 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards NE
Image P/S code: P.2.8
Image I.D.: 4800
CL = 0, CM = 0, CH = 9
Cirrocumulus usually appears as a patch of cloud as seen here, consisting of very small elements that are also called cloudlets. Both aspects are typical of the genera. The elements have an apparent width of less than 1° and are of the species floccus. The undulations indicate the variety undulatus and beneath the merged floccus are short trails of virga, which are a supplementary feature. Near the top of the image are what appear to be the hanging protuberances of the supplementary feature mamma. It should be noted that mamma at such a height in Cirrocumulus would be very small.
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The surface chart shows low pressure of 1010 hPa in the Atlantic off north-western Spain. A ridge of high pressure covered the Canary Islands, Spain, the location of the photograph, where the wind flow at medium and upper levels was blowing from the south-west.
The sounding from Güímar, Tenerife, Spain (WMO 60018) shows 90 %RH with respect to water at 7 000 m, and winds aloft from the south-west.
When the Sun is just above or on the horizon, it can redden the base of clouds. If the base is corrugated, the colour is distributed in alternate lighter (yellowish or reddish tints) and darker (other tints) bands. This alternate colouring (in fact, the bands are illuminated troughs versus ridges in shadow) shows the detail of the corrugations that otherwise tends to go unnoticed.
This photo was taken four minutes after sunset with reference to an observer at mean sea level. The cloud base is estimated to be at around 10 000 m; that is at a height where the Sun is not yet below the horizon.
The cloud is Cirrocumulus stratiformis undulatus mamma, where stratiformis denotes an extensive sheet or layer, undulatus denotes undulations (wave pattern) that are generally transverse to the wind at that level, and mamma describes the hanging protuberances, like udders, on the under surface of the cloud.
The almost parallel angle of the Sun’s rays has magnificently highlighted the undulations and mamma on the under surface of the Cirrocumulus.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
When the Sun is just above or on the horizon, it can redden the base of clouds. If the base is corrugated, the colour is distributed in alternate lighter (yellowish or reddish tints) and darker (other tints) bands. This alternate colouring (in fact, the bands are illuminated troughs versus ridges in shadow) shows the detail of the corrugations that otherwise tends to go unnoticed.
This photo was taken four minutes after sunset with reference to an observer at mean sea level. Satellite imagery and the King's Park (Hong Kong, China) upper-air sounding suggest the cloud base was at about 10 000 m; that is at a height where the Sun is not yet below the horizon.
The cloud is Cirrocumulus stratiformis undulatus mamma, where stratiformis denotes an extensive sheet or layer, undulatus denotes undulations (wave pattern) that are generally transverse to the wind at that level, and mamma describes the hanging protuberances, like udders, on the under surface of the cloud.
The almost parallel angle of the Sun’s rays has magnificently highlighted the undulations and mamma on the under surface of the Cirrocumulus.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
When the Sun is just above or on the horizon, it can redden the base of clouds. If the base is corrugated, the colour is distributed in alternate lighter (yellowish or reddish tints) and darker (other tints) bands. This alternate colouring (in fact, the bands are illuminated troughs versus ridges in shadow) shows the detail of the corrugations that otherwise tends to go unnoticed.
This photo was taken around sunset with reference to an observer at mean sea level. Satellite imagery and the King's Park (Hong Kong, China) upper-air sounding suggest the cloud base was at about 10 000 m; that is at a height where the Sun is not yet below the horizon.
The cloud is Cirrocumulus stratiformis undulatus mamma, where stratiformis denotes an extensive sheet or layer, undulatus denotes undulations (wave pattern) that are generally transverse to the wind at that level, and mamma describes the hanging protuberances, like udders, on the under surface of the cloud.
The almost parallel angle of the Sun's rays have magnificently highlighted the undulations and mamma on the under surface of the Cirrocumulus.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.