Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Asperitas Clouds

From below, asperitas clouds appear like upside-down ocean waves, undulating and cresting and best seen at sunset when they're lit from below. 

The term "asperitas" and the classification is a rare new addition for the official cloud atlas. Here's the official definition of Asperitas clouds:

"Well-defined, wave-like structures in the underside of the cloud; more chaotic and with less horizontal organization than the variety undulates. Asperitas is characterized by localized waves in the cloud base, either smooth or dappled with smaller features, sometimes descending into sharp points, as if viewing a roughened sea surface from below. Varying levels of illumination and thickness of the cloud can lead to dramatic visual effects. Occurs mostly with Stratocumulus and Altocumulus."

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