Stratocumulus castellanusorStratocumulus castellatus[1] is a type of stratocumulus cloud, castellanus is derived from Latin, meaning 'of a castle' This type of cloud appears as cumuliform turrets vertically rising from a common horizontal cloud base, these turrets are taller than they are wide[2]
| Stratocumulus castellanus | |
|---|---|
Stratocumulus castellanus, with various turrets of very small size and one of a larger size
| |
| Abbreviation | Sc cas |
| Symbol |  |
| Genus | Stratocumulus |
| Species | Castellanus |
| Altitude | Above 2,000 m (Above 6,560 ft) |
| Appearance | small turrets |
| Precipitation | Virga, and sometimes light rain |
This type of cloud indicates an increasingly unstable atmosphere,[3] and seeing this type of cloud in the morning usually means that there is a possibility of thunderstorms forming later in the afternoon[4] In the right conditions, these clouds can grow into cumulus congestus clouds, and sometimes, into cumulonimbus clouds[5]