After a blistering Friday afternoon, I dreaded the hot commute back home, but finally we got some relief in the form of afternoon thunderstorms. There were a few around with cool outflows, but limited areas of rain. Still, the thunderstorms do have another blessing: when they rain out, the Cirrus Spissatus helps keep the sky overcast for the rest of the evening. Specifically generated from Cumulonimbus Capillatus (CL9)(Your typical thunderstorm), this is called Cirrus Spissatus Cumulonimbogenitus (CH3). The downside, is that the cirrus also limits the diurnal heating necessary for further thunderstorm development and stabilizes the atmosphere to some extent.
The high clouds of the anvil separate from the mid and lower clouds and leave a nice veil over the sky. Unlike other cirrus, this is a bit darker and thicker in the middle, while more typical of cirrus around the edges.
These that I took, show the transition from CL9 to CH3.
Hey Will, is the CH3 a "split away" form of the CL9? o.O That is what I understood, hehe.
ReplyDeleteWilliam, you sneak! I had to rely on Rebecca to tell me you had a blog!
ReplyDeleteLooks great and I look forward to following it.
-Meg
Yes- the CH3 is defined from the CL9 as the thunderstorm loses energy. Pulse thunderstorms rely on very strong convection from diurnal heating in order to form. As they cool the surfaces surrounding the storm through precipition and downdrafts, they also neutralize their source of life. The clouds in the upper atmosphere soon disperse, leaving Cirrus Spissatus. Because it was formed from a Cumulonimbus, it is distinguished from normal Cirrus Spissatus with the name, Cirrus Spissatus Cumulonimbogenitus.
ReplyDeleteMeg- glad you found it. I still need a real camera, but the one I have for now will suffice.
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