© Martin Gudd
Bad Kreuznach, Germany
Latitude: 49° 50' 39'' N
Longitude: 7° 50' 32'' E
07 December 2015 1439 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards S
Image P/S code: P.2.3
Image I.D.: 5101
CL = 0, CM = 0, CH = 9
This is a complex sky of Cirrocumulus castellanus, floccus and stratiformis undulatus, arranged in two layers (variety duplicatus). Cirrus fibratus and spissatus are also present. Cirrus and Cirrocumulus combined is a common feature in mid-latitude skies.
Several contrails can be seen low on the horizon, as at 1 and 2.
This is coded as CH = 9 as the Cirrocumulus predominates.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
The synoptic chart shows the situation about one hour before the photo was taken. There are two main frontal systems: a warm front, stretching from Iceland over the North Sea to the northern parts of Germany, and a cold front, stretching southward from Iceland to Ireland and on to the Bay of Biscay. Great parts of Germany are in the warm-air sector.
Sounding from 40 km west-south-west – spikes of high moisture content at 389 and 314 hPa and conditional instability from 459 to 366 hPa
There are two main frontal systems: a warm front, stretching from Iceland over the North Sea to the northern parts of Germany, and a cold front, stretching southward from Iceland to Ireland and on to the Bay of Biscay. Great parts of Germany are in the warm-air sector. Within this warm air, some high and middle clouds have developed. Over Benelux and the western parts of Germany, there is a small patch of high and middle clouds, stretching eastward at about the 50th parallel. A weak short-wave, upper-level trough was responsible for this cloud.