Altocumulus castellanus clouds, with higher altocumulus floccus
Abbreviation
Ac cas
Symbol
Genus
Altocumulus (high, heaped)
Species
castellanus (castle)
Variety
Duplicatus
Lacunosus
Opacus
Perlucidus
Radiatus
Translucidus
Undulatus
Altitude
2,000 - 6,000 m (6,500 - 20,000 ft)
Classification
Family B (Medium-level)
Appearance
Middle-altitude Stratocumulus clouds arranged in groups with rising towers, turrets.
Precipitation
Virga only.
In meteorology, Altocumulus castellanus or Altocumulus castellatus[1] (ACCAS) is a cloud type named for its tower-like projections that billow upwards from the base of the cloud. The base of the cloud can form as low as 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), or as high as 6,000 metres (20,000 feet). They are very similar to cumulus congestus clouds, but at a higher level and with the cloud heaps joined at the base.
Castellanus clouds are evidence of mid-atmospheric instability and a high mid-altitude lapse rate.[2] They may be a harbinger of heavy showers and thunderstorms and, if surface-based convection can connect to the mid-tropospheric unstable layer, continued development of Castellanus clouds can produce cumulonimbus clouds.
Altocumulus castellanus clouds are typically accompanied by moderate turbulence as well as potential icing conditions. For these reasons, flight through these clouds is often best avoided by aircraft.[3]
^"Appendix 3 - History of cloud nomenclature".
^"weather.com - Glossary". Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
^"Weather Tutorial Page 4c - Clouds (NASA Quest)". Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
and 18 Related for: Altocumulus castellanus cloud information
unstable layer, continued development of Castellanusclouds can produce cumulonimbus clouds. Altocumuluscastellanusclouds are typically accompanied by moderate...
depression, although this is often hidden by lower clouds. Towering altocumulus, known as altocumuluscastellanus, frequently signals the development of thunderstorms...
species stratiformis, castellanus, and floccus. Cloud-based supplementary feature Mamma Altocumulus (usually species castellanus) with downward facing...
A castellanus (from Latin castellanus 'castle'), or castellatus, is a cloud that displays at least in its upper part cumuliform protuberances having the...
those in altocumulus, and the whole being at a lower height, usually below 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Weak convective currents create shallow cloud layers...
cirrocumulus and altocumulus of the species stratiformis, castellanus, and floccus, and with stratocumulus of the species stratiformis and castellanus. It is possible...
August 2021. Altocumulus floccus (meaning tuft of wool, fluff, or nap of cloth...) "Altocumulus floccus". International Cloud Atlas. "Altocumulus floccus (Ac...
comes in five visually-distinct species: castellanus, fibratus, floccus, spissatus, and uncinus: Cirrus castellanus has cumuliform tops caused by high-altitude...
structure of this cloud which is tapered at each end. Cirrocumulus castellanus (Cc cas) has cumuliform buildups that give the cloud a partly or mainly...
formed from altocumuluscastellanus or stratocumulus castellanus, which are forms of cumulus castellanus. The congestus species of cloud can only be found...
lenticularis, castellanus, and floccus. They are iridescent when the constituent supercooled water droplets are all about the same size. Altocumulusclouds are...
precipitation can begin to fall from heavy nimbostratus. If unstable altocumuluscastellanus accompanies or takes the place of the main altostratus layer, cumulus...
half the sky) cloud layer with its base at 2,200 ft (670 m) above ground level (AGL). The lowest "BKN" or "OVC" layer specifies the cloud ceiling. OVC050...
each other. At formation, the cirrus floccus clouds are bright white and can be mistaken for altocumulusclouds; however, after a few minutes, the brightness...
Altocumulus; it may also apply, though very rarely, to Stratocumulus. List of cloud types Altocumulus lacunosus Wolken-Online. "Cirrocumulus". Cloud Atlas...
the air is very dry – typical of deserts) or from aloft (when altocumuluscastellanus degenerates into cumulonimbus). When the updraft originates from...
respect to a fixed level such as sea level. altocumuluscastellanusaltocumulus (Ac) A middle-altitude cloud genus characterized by small globular masses...
Irisation can occasionally occur with these clouds. Altocumulus lenticularis Stratocumulus lenticularis List of cloud types Numen - The Latin Lexicon. "Definition...
Global Information
