Sarah Sturgis

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Those are some gorgeous photos, Marie!

    in reply to: Fluctus? #573918
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Sorry. I don’t see fluctus.  The curl reminds me of the Kelvin – Helmholtz phenomenon, but those usually come in a parade. I don’t think that’s it.

    in reply to: Radiatus partially blocked by other lower clouds? #573914
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Neat photo, Flynn.  Looks like radiatus to me, as well. Your photo reminded me that the cloud systems can be multilayered.

    in reply to: Is this a Mammatus cloud #573637
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    James,

    What a spectacular photo, no matter what the cloud formation is.  The background sky transitions from light to dark, so, at the horizon, the clouds appear dark against the lighter sky.  At the top, the clouds appear lighter than the saturated dark blue background. Lovely. There is a roundish look, an optical illusion, I think, that suggests mamma.

    The cloud formation looks like altocumulus floccus, to me.

    in reply to: Unusual clouds spotted #573118
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    This is a photograph taken by Eric Loz, showing a classic example of Asperatis.

    IMG_1758

    in reply to: Unusual clouds spotted #573108
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Marie, A linear parallel pattern of undulatus is implied in places.  I see it, too.
    Undulatus clouds form in the low pressure troughs between the rolling, parallel waves in the ocean of air below. They are long, straight, parallel clouds of the same altitude. Here the undulatus have become strato- and alto- cumulus in the unstable atmosphere. The parallel pattern persists, though, in spots with less turbulence.   What looks like “a roughened sea surface from below,” is the  “chaotic, wave-like configuration forms at the base of stratocumulus or altocumulus clouds” [The International Cloud Atlas] This cloud type is called Asperatis.

    I’m not positive of this classification, but present my suggestion with information about Asperatis.

    Asperitas was added to the International Cloud Atlas in 2017.  It was the first new classification of cloud in 54 years.  In 2009, the Cloud Appreciation Society petitioned the World Meteorological Association to officially name this cloud type.  Our group is referred to as “citizen scientists”.

    in reply to: Very dark cloud spotted #572801
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    To me it looks like cumulus conjestus,  the darkness of it suggests a lot of cloud stack above.  Though it can’t be seen, I suspect a building cumulonimbus rises from the dark part.  I don’t see any spreading fine high clouds as from an anvil top.

    in reply to: Lancanosus? #567475
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Looks like it in the left. Sorry I don’t have more to add

    in reply to: Mamma? it was only one the edges #567408
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Those photos are spectacular, Flynn. I’m no expert, but when cumulus is rising to become cumulonimbus, it begins as a gang of cumulus, cumulus congestus,  Perhaps you’re catching an upwards view of the entourage,  the remaining congestus.  Mamma churns across the underside, suggesting energetic internal convections, rising and falling on the inside of the growing cumulonimbus.  Maybe you’ve caught a hybrid. In any case, WOW, what a catch, with the rosy side lighting.  Thanks for sharing this gorgeous enigma.

    in reply to: Asperitas? #567130
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Wonderful photo. It looks like asperitas, but more linear and less woven than more common Asperitas. I get why you questioned it.

    in reply to: No idea #566865
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    I’m no expert, but I’m old and allowed to pretend I am. What an interesting topic.  If contrails are disallowed, what are those two lit clouds? The lighted clouds would need to be on two different layers, with different wind directions. On a third lit layer, far above, are some high, directional cirrus that seem unrelated to the linear clouds in question. A fourth layer, low and in the dark, shows wispy stratus. They seem unrelated as well.   I can’t think what those clouds might be accept contrails, which was my first impression.

    in reply to: Wavy Clouds #546700
    Sarah Sturgis avatarSarah Sturgis
    Participant

    Those sure do look like kelvin-hemholtz. I’m not an expert, just an avid cloud watcher.  I vote yes.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)