43 Cirrocumulus Clouds Facts For Kids To Learn About The Sky

Have you ever seen clouds in the sky that look like fish scales?

Chances are that what you might have seen were cirrocumulus clouds. The cirrocumulus cloud gets its name from two other kinds of clouds.

Named after cumulus and cirrus clouds, the cirrocumulus cloud is a culmination of the traits of both. There are several types of cirrocumulus clouds but they mostly appear like fish scales high up in the troposphere.

One of the most fascinating things about the cirrocumulus cloud is that when the sunlight hits it at the correct angle, the most beautiful hues are brought to life!

There are several types of cirrocumulus cloud formations, but they are all high-level clouds. Like other high-level clouds such as the parent cirrus clouds, the cirrocumulus cloud does not bring upon any precipitation. Keep reading for more facts!

Facts About Cirrocumulus Clouds

Cirrocumulus clouds are just as fascinating as they appear in the sky!

• Cirrocumulus clouds are an amalgamation of the names of two types of clouds.
• The cloud types are cirrus and cumulus.
• Cirrocumuli are high-level clouds.
• These clouds are some of the ones that are farthest away from the Earth's surface.
• A cirrocumulus cloud formation is wispy and appears as tufts of hair.
• Cirrocumulus clouds do not bring rain, however, they can be an indication that rain clouds may engulf the entire sky in a few days.
• The appearance of cirrocumulus clouds is an indication of fair weather, as they form a layer of tufts in the sky.
• Cirrus, one of the types of clouds that cirrocumulus is named after a Latin word.
• The Latin word cirrus means 'curls' or 'tufts'.
• The other type of cloud that cirrocumulus is named after is cumulus. The Latin word 'cumulus' means a small heap or bundle.
• Cirrus clouds are high-level clouds, while cumulus clouds are low to mid-level clouds.
• Cirrus clouds appear wispy in the sky and contain ice crystals which give rise to a phenomenon known as the fire rainbow.
• Cumulous clouds occur closer to the surface of the Earth and appear like small heaps.
• If you have seen large, cauliflower-like clouds that roam around quite close to the ground making you stir your imagination and think of them as dragons and castles, then those were definitely cumulus clouds.
• Cirrocumulus clouds often appear like fish scales in the sky.
• The term 'mackerel sky' is a derivation from the look that these clouds impart onto the sky.
• Cirrocumulus clouds are disjointed and wispy, which is why they allow the sun's light to pass through.
• Cirrocumulus clouds often indicate warm weather conditions.
• These clouds take up the most beautiful purple tinge during sunset.
• The ice crystals in cirrocumulus clouds cannot form the phenomenon known as the fire rainbow.
• Clouds are formed through an amalgamation of water vapor and particles suspended in the air.
• Cirrocumulus clouds contain supercooled water since they are high-level clouds.
• High-level clouds do not contribute much towards rain since they are so far away from the surface of the earth.
• Cirrocumulus clouds are a common sight in the winter season.

Significance Of Cirrocumulus Clouds

All clouds have their own significance. While cirrocumulus clouds do not generally act as markers for a particular weather-related phenomenon, they sure are beautiful to look at!

• There are many types of cirrocumulus clouds.
• The types are cirrocumulus stratiformis, cirromulus lenticularis, cirrocumulus floccus, cirrocumulus castellanus.
• Cirrocumulus stratiformis appear as sheets. Each layer of clouds is made of ice and each cloud segment has a thin separation.
• Cirrocumulus stratiformis appears like fish scales.
• Cirrocumulus lenticularis clouds are very rare.
• This type of cloud appears in rounded shapes and occurs in the cold, upper layers of the atmosphere.
• They are made of ice but do not result in precipitation in the form of snow.
• The cirrocumulus floccus does not appear in lines.
• This type of cloud forms tufts and is more reminiscent of the cumulus cloud type.
• Cirrocumulus castellanus appears like thin towers in the sky.
• This cloud formation does not appear in the form of lines or sheets.
• Cirrocumulus clouds are not clear markers of any weather conditions.
• Cirrocumulus clouds are clearly seen when the air quality is good and the weather is pleasant.
• They do not cause any precipitation in the form of rain or snow since these cloud formations are high up in the sky.
• Mackerel skies occur as a result of cirrocumulus clouds.
• All clouds are made up of water droplets, water vapor, and particles suspended in the air.
• The speed at which these clouds can move is highly variable.
• They are sometimes called mackerel clouds because they appear like fish scales and they are usually at an altitude of 16,000–49,000 ft (4876.8–14935.2 m).
• There is no particular part of the world where the cirrocumulus clouds are more visible than anywhere else.