The Science Behind Altocumulus Clouds

Over the next couple months, you will learn about the different types of clouds and how they form. This week, I'm starting with my favorite type of cloud, and that is altocumulus.

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Altocumulus clouds typically appear as band of clouds or rounded masses, like in the photos below. These clouds are mostly made up of water droplets and are found in the middle layer of the atmosphere between 6,500 and 20,000 feet above the surface of the Earth.

This type of cloud usually forms by convection, which is the process of creating thunderstorms. This means that the air is unstable at this layer in the atmosphere. Altocumulus clouds can be found ahead of a cold front or in the morning on a warm, humid, Summer day, which may foreshadow thunderstorms later in the day. Now you know the science behind altocumulus clouds.

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