© Michael Bruhn
Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia
Latitude: 37° 41' 24'' S
Longitude: 144° 56' 50'' E
09 May 2012 0841 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards S
Image P/S code: P.9.14
Image I.D.: 5937
CL = 2, CM = 8, CH = 0
In this image, an Altocumulus castellanus that had acquired considerable vertical extent has evolved into a high-based Cumulus congestus cloud, which can be seen in the distance. Due to this evolution, it can be referred to as altocumulogenitus. In the foreground, deep virga trails are falling out of the castellanus and evaporating into the dry air below (as seen on the sounding). Due to this process, the castellanus is evolving into floccus.
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The synoptic chart for 1000 hours local time shows high pressure of 1 024 hPa centred over northern New South Wales, Australia. A fairly weak cold front associated with a deep low in the Southern Ocean was approaching the location of the image (shown by a red arrow).
The 0000 UTC sounding from Melbourne Airport, Victoria, Australia (WMO 94866) shows conditional instability ahead of a fairly weak cold front, which was approaching the image location, above a decaying nocturnal radiation inversion. Of note is a moist zone at medium levels, between about 700 and 550 hPa.
Cumulus congestus evolved from Altocumulus castellanus
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