A principal cloud type, white or gray in color, comprised of either water droplets or ice crystals. Altocumulus occur as a layer or patch with waved or rolled aspects, found anywhere from the 6000 to 20,000 foot level.
These clouds contain mostly water droplets and look like waves of the sea with white and gray coloring and shadows.
A middle cloud, usually white or gray. Often occurs in layers of patches with wavy, rounded masses or rolls.
a mid-level cloud which occurs as a layer or patch with a wavy appearance and is typically white and/or gray
Mid-altitude clouds with a cumuliform shape.
Composed of flattened, thick, gray, globular masses, this middle cloud genus is primarily made of water droplets. In the mid-latitudes, cloud bases are usually found between 8,000 and 18,000 feet. A defining characteristic is that it often appears as a wavy billowy layer of cloud, giving it the nickname of "sheep" or "woolpack" clouds. Sometimes confused with cirrocumulus clouds, its elements (individual clouds) have a larger mass and cast a shadow on other elements. It may form several sub-types, such as altocumulus castellanus or altocumulus lenticularis. Virga may also fall from these clouds.
White or gray, or both white and gray, patch, sheet, or layer of cloud.
A cloud of a class characterized by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches, the individual elements being larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus and smaller than those of stratocumulus. These clouds are of medium altitude, about 8000-20,000 ft (2400-6100 m).