Cavum Cloud

Cavum Cloud

In a recent post, NASA shared a captivating photograph captured by the Terra satellite on January 30, showcasing peculiar holes in the clouds above the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Florida.

• These mysterious formations, known as “cavum clouds” or “hole-punch clouds,” have intrigued scientists for over a decade.

What is s Cavum Cloud?

• A Cavum cloud, also known as a fallstreak hole, is a distinctive cloud feature characterized by a well-defined circular or sometimes linear hole in a thin layer of supercooled water droplet cloud.
• Characteristics and Formation
  • Cloud Types: Cavum clouds can be found in cirrocumulus, altocumulus, and stratocumulus clouds.
  • Appearance: They appear as giant holes in the cloud layer with virga wisps falling underneath the hole, creating a visually striking appearance.
  • Nicknames: Cavum clouds are also known by various nicknames like fallstreak hole, hole punch cloud, cloud cavity, skypunch cloud, and cloud canal.
  • Formation: These clouds are often formed when an aircraft flies through a thin cumuliform cloud layer, triggering glaciation where water droplets transform into ice particles, creating a gap in the cloud layer with descending ice particles.
  • Frequency: Fallstreak holes are more common in altocumulus layers when triggered by aircraft but can also form naturally in cirrocumulus layers without aircraft involvement.
• Significance and Observation
  • Observation: Cavum clouds are often mistaken for unusual shapes like flying saucers due to their distinct appearance.
  • Location: They are most frequently found in altocumulus clouds, followed by cirrocumulus and stratocumulus clouds.

What are ‘cirrocumulus, altocumulus, and stratocumulus clouds’?

• Cirrocumulus Clouds:
  • Altitude:
    • Cirrocumulus clouds are high-altitude clouds found in the atmosphere’s uppermost layer, typically at an altitude of 20,000 to 40,000 feet (6,000 to 12,000 meters).
  • Appearance:
    • These clouds appear as small, white patches or rows of clouds with a rippled or textured appearance.
    • They often cover the sky in a pattern resembling fish scales or the scales on the skin of a mackerel.
  • Formation:
    • Cirrocumulus clouds usually form in cold and stable atmospheric conditions, often associated with fair weather.
    • They are composed of ice crystals due to the low temperatures at their high altitude.
  • Altocumulus Clouds:
    • Altitude:
      • Altocumulus clouds occupy a middle-altitude range, typically found between 6,500 to 20,000 feet (2,000 to 6,000 meters) above sea level.
    • Appearance:
      • Altocumulus clouds are characterized by gray or white layers or patches covering the sky.
      • They can have a variety of shapes, including rounded masses, rolls, or waves.
      • These clouds often appear before a storm, but they can also form under stable atmospheric conditions.
    • Formation:
      • Altocumulus clouds are formed from water droplets or ice crystals and may indicate changes in the weather, such as an approaching warm or occluded front.
    • Stratocumulus Clouds:
      • Altitude:
        • Stratocumulus clouds are found at lower altitudes, typically ranging from the surface up to 6,500 feet (2,000 meters).
      • Appearance:
        • These clouds often form as low, gray layers with a relatively uniform appearance.
        • They may cover the sky but usually do not reach the ground as precipitation.
        • Stratocumulus clouds can also appear as lumpy patches or rolls.
      • Formation:
        • Stratocumulus clouds form in stable atmospheric conditions, often associated with a lack of significant vertical air movement.
        • While they can bring light rain or drizzle, they are not typically associated with heavy precipitation.

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