Meteorology Monday

[Douglas Sherman]

It's Monday and it is time for clouds in landscapes or skyscapes. Here is the general cloud classification chart to help with your identification. Notice that clouds appear smaller at higher altitudes like cumulus (low), altocumulus (moderate), and cirrocumulus (high).

My contribution today is altocumulus clouds. They typically form long rows of cumulus clouds as seen in these images. Please pile on with your images. They don't have to be altocumulus but you do have to try and identify what they are.

 

[JimFox]

So this is Altocumulus clouds? Great examples Doug!

I will look quick while I pack up my 4Runner. I have seen those and shot those, but I don't recall where.

 

[AlanLichty]

I have some examples that appear to match the altocumulus category.

Sunrise at the Alabama Hills:

Second Beach, Olympic National Park:

Bisti:

All of the next three are from Harris Beach State Park near Brookings, Oregon:

 

[Jameel Hyder]

I am away from home without access to my images. It is pretty clear skies here in SLC so no chance of looking for any clouds - esp the ones like these.

 

[John Holbrook]

Big Bend National Park, TX (November 2019) Altocumulus clouds?

 

[Mike Lewis]

OK, so not sure what these all are exactly, but I'll take a stab at identification. The first 2 images were picked because the clouds were actually the subject of the image, for the 3rd one they are just a nice addition. :

Local storm cloud, just a few miles away from my house one afternoon (one of the few times I was able to go on to my house and get my camera and drive back to the location and still get the shot....) This DID require a wide angle to get it all in the frame. I don't know, maybe Cumulonimbus perhaps?

Here is an impressive cloud down in Florida - guess this might be Cumulonimbus as well?

Lastly, this one is not really about the clouds, but they are kinda cool. I guess these are Cirrus?

ML

 

[Douglas Sherman]

OK, so not sure what these all are exactly, but I'll take a stab at identification. The first 2 images were picked because the clouds were actually the subject of the image, for the 3rd one they are just a nice addition. :

Local storm cloud, just a few miles away from my house one afternoon (one of the few times I was able to go on to my house and get my camera and drive back to the location and still get the shot....) This DID require a wide angle to get it all in the frame. I don't know, maybe Cumulonimbus perhaps?

View attachment 53087


Here is an impressive cloud down in Florida - guess this might be Cumulonimbus as well?

View attachment 53088


Lastly, this one is not really about the clouds, but they are kinda cool. I guess these are Cirrus?

View attachment 53089


ML

That first one is indeed a cumulonimbus, Mike. The foreground cloud in the second one is cumulus congestus and the one behind it is cumulonimbus. The final clouds are indeed cirrus. Great ID job, Mike.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Big Bend National Park, TX (November 2019) Altocumulus clouds?

View attachment 53084

I think you are right, John. God ID.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I am away from home without access to my images. It is pretty clear skies here in SLC so no chance of looking for any clouds - esp the ones like these.

See you next week, Jameel.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I think these are altocumulus