Cirrocumulus (CC)

Figure 1-24.—Cirrus uncinus (mare’s tails). CIRROSTRATUS NEBULOSUS.—Cirro- stratus nebulosus often appears as a thin veil over the sky, without any distinguishable features. This cloud is sometimes mistaken for haze. Haze, however, will have a yellowish or brownish color as opposed to the milky appearance of cirrostratus. A halo in an otherwise clear sky indicates cirrostratus nebulosus. CIRROSTRATUS FIBRATUS.—Occasionally a cirrostratus layer contains fibrous filaments. When this occurs, the entire cloud layer is classified cirrostratus fibratus. Cirrocumulus (CC) Cirrocumulus clouds are very similar in appearance to the high altocumulus clouds. The small white cells of cirrocumulus clouds, however, cover less than 1° of the sky, which means that they may be hidden by one finger held at arm’s length. The small cloud elements are usually arranged in tightly packed rows. An area of cirrocumulus clouds (refer to figure 1-23) is frequently described as looking like a honeycomb, a fish net, or like the scales of a fish. The last description gave rise to the popular name for these clouds, the mackerel sky. CIRROCUMULUS STRATIFORMIS.—Cixro- cumulus clouds in an extensive sheet or layer are identified by the species cirrocumulus stratiformis. Typically, however, the area covered by cirrocumulus does not cover the entire sky, but only small patches of the sky. CIRROCUMULUS FLOCCUS.—When the cirrocumulus elements show rounded tops and ragged bases, often with short virga trails, the cirrocumulus 1-23