cirrus
Let an agent handle cirrus clouds by identification, species, formation, optical effects, weather significance and aviation relevance, using WMO classification.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle cirrus clouds by identification, species, formation, optical effects, weather significance and aviation relevance, using WMO classification.
A genus of high-level cloud made of ice crystals, appearing as thin, white, wispy filaments, patches or bands, typically above about 6 kilometres in mid-latitudes; species include fibratus, uncinus, spissatus, castellanus and floccus, and cirrus can signal an approaching weather front.
What it is for: Weather observation, forecasting and climate science.
It can be identify cirrus and its species; explain how cirrus forms; relate cirrus to approaching weather; understand contrail cirrus and climate.
Distinguishing features
High-level ice cloud
Fibrous appearance
Often precedes fronts
Linked to halos and contrails
What it looks like
Delicate white streaks or hooks high in the sky, often called mares tails.
How it is recognised
Thin wispy ice clouds
Hooked cirrus uncinus
Cirrostratus forms a thin veil producing halos
Related models
is a kind of - category
is made of - composition
produces - optical effect
is classified in - reference
In practice
Families and kinds
cirrus fibratus
cirrus uncinus
cirrus spissatus
cirrus castellanus and floccus
contrail cirrus
Identifiers
WMO cloud abbreviation Ci cloud genus
Standards and regulation
WMO International Cloud Atlas
Failure modes and hazards
Over-reliance on cirrus as a forecast
Confusing contrails and natural cirrus
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.cirrus-animal
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identify Recognition.
Shape identifies.
Genus
Cirrus or not.
Genus
Genus.
- Is this cloud cirrus, cirrostratus or cirrocumulus? boundary
- Which features decide it? definition
Species
Species and varieties.
Species
Species.
- Which cirrus species or variety is it? definition
- How can it be told from others? definition
Formation How it forms.
Ice forms high up.
Ice
Ice crystals.
Ice
Ice crystals.
- How do ice crystals form cirrus at high altitude? definition
- Why do fall streaks appear? definition
Contrails
Aircraft contrails.
Contrails
Contrails.
- When do aircraft contrails spread into cirrus, and what is their climate effect, according to studies? provenance
- How certain are estimates? boundary
Weather Significance.
Cirrus can signal change.
Front
Approaching weather.
Front
Approaching fronts.
- Does increasing cirrus suggest an approaching front here? boundary
- What does the official forecast say? provenance
Climate
Radiative effects.
Climate
Climate effects.
- How do cirrus clouds affect the Earth energy balance, according to climate assessments? provenance
- Is the effect warming or cooling overall? boundary
Optics Sky phenomena.
Cirrus creates effects.
Halos
Halos and arcs.
Halos
Halos.
- Which halos and arcs appear with cirrus? definition
- How can they be viewed safely? action
Photo
Photography.
Photo
Photography.
- How can cirrus be photographed well? action
- Where can cloud observations be shared? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should species be separate entries?
- How should contrail research be linked?
- How should cloud photos be linked?