Clouds of the Day: Altocumulus

Taken at 11:30 this morning these clouds looked cold. Temperatures in the 20s and no leaves on the trees added to the effect. The Sun was visible through the cloud deck, which revealed the cellular cloud pattern of Cumulus clouds.

‘Alto’ means high. This photo shows clouds above 6,000 feet (2,000 meters), which we refer to as the middle layer of the atmosphere. It is just above the lowest layer, which is near the surface. The lowest Cumulus cloud type is named Cumulus. However, because the clouds in this photo are just above the lowest layer, they are named Altocumulus (high cumulus). The higher cloud layer above these clouds is where ‘Cirrus’ clouds are found. Cumulus in that layer are called Cirrocumulus.