WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
  welcome
 
> online guides
 
  archives
 
  educational cd-rom
 
  current weather
 
  about ww2010
 
  index

Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
> meteorology
 
  remote sensing
 
  reading maps
 
  projects, activities

Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
> clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
  forces, winds
 
  hurricanes
 
  hydrologic cycle
 
  light, optics
 
  midlatitude cyclones
 
  severe storms
 
  weather forecasting

Clouds, Precipitation
 
  introduction
 
  development
 
> cloud types
 
  precipitation

Cloud Types
 
  introduction
 
  high-level clouds
 
> mid-level clouds
 
  low-level clouds
 
  vertically developed
 
  other cloud types

Mid-Level Clouds
 
> altocumulus

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

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Altocumulus Clouds
parallel bands or rounded masses

[Image: wavelike altocumulus clouds (91K)]
Photograph by: Holle
Altocumulus clouds are composed primarily of water droplets and are located between 6,500 and 20,000 feet (2,000 to 6,000 meters) above the ground.

[Image: puffy altocumulus clouds (87K)]
Photograph by: Holle
Altocumulus may appear as parallel bands (top photograph) or rounded masses (bottom photograph). Typically a portion of an altocumulus cloud is shaded, a characteristic which makes them distinguishable from the high-level cirrocumulus. Altocumulus clouds usually form by convection in an unstable layer aloft, which may result from the gradual lifting of air in advance of a cold front. The presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm and humid summer morning is commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day.

Also found at mid-levels are altostratus clouds, which are often confused with high-level cirrostratus. One distinguishing feature is that a halo is not observed around the sun (or moon) when viewed through altostratus, but is a common feature associated with cirrostratus clouds. In fact, the sun (or moon) is only vaguely visible through altostratus clouds and appears as if it were shining through frosted glass.



High-Level Clouds
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Low-Level Clouds