Unusual Low altitude "Herringbone" or "Mackerel" cloud formation over Dundee, UK
Cumuliform and stratocumuli form clouds, cirrocumulus signifies sometimes also referred to colloquially as "herringbone" or "mackerel". Cirrocumulus is one of the three main genus-types of high-altitude troposphere clouds, which also includes cirrus and cirrostratus. They usually occur at an altitude of 5 kilometres (16,000 ft) to 12 kilometres (39,000 ft). Like lower altitude cumuliform and stratocumuli form clouds, cirrocumulus signifies convection. Unlike other high cirrus and cirrostratus, cirrocumulus includes a small amount of liquid water droplets, although these are in a super cooled state. Ice crystals are the predominant component, and typically, the ice crystals cause the super cooled water drops in the cloud to rapidly freeze, transforming the cirrocumulus into cirrostratus. This process can also produce precipitation in the form of a virga consisting of ice or snow. Thus cirrocumulus clouds are usually short-lived. They usually only form as part of a short-lived. The term cirrocumulus refers to each cloud, but is typically also used to refer to an entire patch of cirrocumulus. When used in this way, each cirrocumulus element is referred to as a "cloudlet". Cirrocumulus is a cloud of the stratocumuli form physical category that shows both stratiform and cumuliform characteristics and typically appears as a large, white, and patchy or tuft without a gray shadow. Each cloudlet appears no larger than a finger held at arm's length. It occurs in patches or sheets along with other cirrocumulus. These often are organized in rows like other cumulus, but since they are so small, cirrocumulus patches take on a finer appearance, sometimes also referred to colloquially as "herringbone" or "mackerel". Cirrocumulus clouds on a summer afternoon. Cirrocumulus usually only forms in patches.
Size: 3888px × 2592px
Location: Dundee, Angus, Tayside, Scotland, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Dundee Photographics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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