Clouds of the Day - From Cirrus to Sunset - Tuesday, November 14, 2023

The wind is artistic. Its canvas is the sky and the paint is water and ice. The photos below were taken throughout the day in the order shown below. All but one of the photos below are of Cirrus clouds. With the exception of Cirrocumulus, cirrus are made of ice crystals. Cirrocumulus is the only cirrus type that may have cloud droplets (water) instead of being all ice. Cirrus are formed from the debris left over from a thunderstorm anvil and are found above 16,500 feet to more than 60,000 feet above sea level. They are also formed when rising air aloft condenses what little moisture is in the air into ice clouds. The wind speeds and directions often vary from one layer of air to another, created the fascinating cloud patterns cirrus are well known for. See some examples below.

Cirrus floccus, Cirrostratus, and CONTRAILS

Cirrus uncinus with streamers of ice crystals

Cirrus floccus with Cirrus and Cirrus fibratus

Cirrus floccus and Cirrus fibratus with ice crystal streamers and a CONTRAIL

Cirrus floccus with streamers and a CONTRAIL

Altocumulus floccus

Cirrus floccus, Cirrus spissatus with ice crystal streamers

Cirrus spissatus with a backgrouond of thin Cirrus and a CONTRAIL

Cirrus spissatus with ice crystal streamers

Cirrostratus bathed in Red Sunlight at Sunset