Cirrocumulus lacunosus
| Cirrocumulus lacunosus | |
|---|---|
 Cirrocumulus lacunosus cloud 07/2023 (crop of full image) | |
| Abbreviation | Cc la |
| Symbol |  |
| Genus | Cirro- (curl) -cumulus (heaped) |
| Variety | lacunosus (full of gaps) |
| Altitude | Above 6,000 m (Above 20,000 ft) |
| Appearance | Perforated with round, frayed holes[1][2] |
| Precipitation | Virga only |
Description
Cirrocumulus lacunosus, also known as Cirrocumulus lacunar or Cirrocumulus lacunaris,[3] is a variety[1] of cirrocumulus cloud. The term lacunosus is from Latin, meaning "full of hollows".[4]
Cirrocumulus lacunosus is a relatively rare cloud form that occurs as a cloud layer with circular gaps or holes in it.[1] Formation is commonly attributed to a cool layer of air mixing with an overlying, warmer atmospheric layer, with each downflow of air creating an individual gap.[5][6] These gaps normally have frayed edges, and are often arranged in a manner that resembles a net or a honeycomb.[1][7][8]
Similar cloud forms
Lacunosus must not be confused with the superficially similar cloud form cavum, a supplementary cloud feature also known as a fallstreak hole or as a hole punch. A fallstreak hole usually consists of one very large hole in a cloud layer combined with visible downdraft filaments in the centre, as opposed to 'lacunosus', which consists of a compact lattice or honeycomb of small to tiny holes.[7]
See also
- Altocumulus lacunosus
- Stratocumulus lacunosus
- Cirrocumulus
- Fallstreak hole, cavum
- List of cloud types
References
- ^ a b c d "Lacunosus (Section 2.2.2.3.5)". World Metereological Organization. wmo.int. Retrieved 1 April 2023. chapter "Definitions of clouds > Varieties > Lacunosus"
- ^ "lacunosus". AMS Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society (AMS). 29 March 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Appendix 3 - History of cloud nomenclature (Section A.3)".
- ^ Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition of stratus". Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Cirrocumulus Lacunosus Cloud - EPOD - a service of USRA".
- ^ Dunlop, Storm (2003). The weather identification handbook (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press. p. 67. ISBN 1-58574-857-9.
- ^ a b "Lacunosus Cloud Variety: Perforated, Frayed Holes". whatsthiscloud.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Callanan, Martin. "Cirrocumulus lacunosus". International Cloud Atlas. nephology.eu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
External links
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