When warm rain falls from slightly higher clouds through cooler cloud-free air below, some water evaporates from the raindrops as they fall. But this causes too much humidity in the colder air, forcing some of the water vapor to re-condense back into tiny cloud droplets, making the fractus cloud.

Which type of fog is associated with fractus clouds?

Precipitation fog Precipitation fog or frontal fog is formed by adding moisture, via the evaporation from warm rain drops falling down through the initially-unsaturated cooler air below cloud base. This same situation creates fractus clouds, which could be reported as fog where the fractus clouds touch the ground or the mountain.

What are ragged clouds?

Fractus clouds (scuds) also known as Fractostratus are small, ragged cloud fragments that are usually found under an ambient cloud base. They form or have broken off from a larger cloud, and are generally sheared by strong winds, giving them a jagged, shredded appearance.

What type of weather is associated with nimbus clouds?

What weather is associated with nimbostratus clouds? These mid-level clouds are often accompanied by continuous moderate rain or snow and appear to cover most of the sky. Nimbostratus will often bring precipitation which may last for several hours until the associated front passes over.

What is the meaning of Fractus?

broken The Latin fractus, meaning ‘broken’, used to describe a species of cloud that has an irregular or ragged form. The term is applied to cumulus and stratus.

What causes lenticular clouds to form?

These lens-shaped orographic wave clouds form when the air is stable and winds blow across hills and mountains from the same or similar direction at different heights through the troposphere.

What are the four families of clouds?

For identification purposes, you need be con- cerned only with the more basic cloud types, which are divided into four families. The families are: high clouds, middle clouds, low clouds, and clouds with extensive vertical development.

Do altostratus clouds rain?

Altostratus clouds are strato type clouds (see below) that possess a flat and uniform type texture in the mid levels. … However, altostratus clouds themselves do not produce significant precipitation at the surface, although sprinkles or occasionally light showers may occur from a thick alto- stratus deck.

Do Fractus clouds cause turbulence?

fractus / scud Form in turbulent humid air near the ground. These scud clouds indicate high humidity (such as due to drizzle falling from higher clouds) and strong winds at low altitude.

What are nimbus clouds?

A nimbostratus cloud is a multi-level, amorphous, nearly uniform and often dark grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow or sleet but no lightning or thunder. … Nimbostratus usually produces precipitation over a wide area. Nimbo- is from the Latin word nimbus, which denotes cloud or halo.

What is a TCU cloud?

Cumulus clouds are very common, especially in warm and moist climates. … When a cumulus cloud is much taller than it is wide, it is often called a towering cumulus (TCU) cloud. The taller these clouds are, the more likely they are to produce showers, and sometimes waterspouts.

What is the highest cloud ever recorded?

Noctilucent clouds They are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere at altitudes of around 76 to 85 km (249,000 to 279,000 ft). … Noctilucent cloud.

Noctilucent clouds
Noctilucent clouds over Kuresoo bog, Viljandimaa, Estonia
Abbreviation NLC/PMC
Altitude 76,000 to 85,000 m (250,000 to 280,000 ft)
Classification Other

What are nimbus clouds made of?

Nimbostratus clouds might consist entirely of cloud droplets or raindrops, or of ice crystals and snowflakes. However, the composition of nimbus clouds varies greatly depending on temperature and often they may be mixed with supercooled water droplets and ice crystals present at the same layer.

Why do nimbus clouds bring continuous rain?

Nimbus is an ancient Latin word meaning rain storm. Rain or nimbus clouds tend to appear dark gray because their depth and/or density of large water droplets obscures sunlight. Depending on temperature, nimbus clouds may precipitate hail or snow instead of liquid rain.

What are the 3 types of stratus clouds?

Stratus Cloud Varieties Stratus clouds have three associated cloud varieties: opacus, translucidus, and undulatus.

What does fractious mean in a relationship?

: full of anger and disagreement. a fractious relationship.

Are lenticular clouds rare?

If you don’t live in close proximation to mountains, you might think lenticular clouds are rare. But if you’re situated in a mountainous region, or on the leeward side of a mountain range, the chances of seeing lenticularis clouds increases significantly.

How long do lenticular clouds last?

If you live near or spend time in the mountains, you have likely seen a spectacular smooth lens-shaped cloud called a lenticular. There is no significant weather produced by a lenticular, but their presence often foretells snow in the next 24-48 hours.

Do lenticular clouds rotate?

Unlike most other clouds that are carried along by the wind, lenticular cloud, as it is sometimes called, appears fixed in space, never moving from the spot where it has formed. … Imagine a moist air-mass briskly approaching a ridge of mountains in its path.

What clouds have the greatest turbulence?

The clouds with the greatest turbulence are cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulus clouds are often a sign of good weather, but when cumulus clouds are filled…

Who named clouds?

Luke Howard Rachel Boon looks at the pioneering work of Luke Howard, the man who named the clouds.

Which family of clouds is least likely?

Which family of clouds is least likely to contribute to structural icing on an aircraft? A) Low clouds. B) Clouds with extensive vertical development. … 2.4.1.3.1.A.1.

2.4.1.3.1.A.1 IRA IRH FII FIH AIF HIF IGI IFP
Knowledge Code: I26

What do Altostratus look like?

Altostratus clouds are mid-level, gray or blue-gray clouds that usually cover the whole sky. The Sun or moon may shine through an altostratus cloud, but will appear watery or fuzzy. If you see altostratus clouds, a storm with continuous rain or snow might be on its way.

Where can Altostratus be found?

middle cloud level Definition: Sheet of featureless, gray clouds in the middle cloud level capable of masking the sun. Description & Characteristics. Altostratus clouds are found in the middle cloud level. And unlike their altocumulus counterpart, they’re often boring to look at.

Where are cumulonimbus clouds found?

troposphere Cumulonimbus clouds form in the lower part of the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of the Earth.

How does obscuration affect aviation?

It can clog or contaminate the air filter, the oil filter, and the aircraft and passenger ventillation systems. It can sandblast the windscreen, making it difficult to see through.

Do wall clouds produce tornadoes?

Wall clouds are often associated with tornadic thunderstorms but not always, and many wall clouds do not rotate. … This low-hanging cloud brings the base closer to the ground which aids tornado development. When rotation is present, funnels or tornadoes can drop from them.

What does a cirrostratus cloud do?

Cirrostratus fibratus – similar to cirrus, but with more consistency. Wispy strands all tightly knitted together, making for more of an animal fur look. Cirrostratus nebulosus – a uniform veil-like layer covering the sky. Sometimes almost unnoticeable, cirrostratus nebulosus is featureless, composed entirely of ice.