Lowest cloud in a system?

[JohnnyP]

Is the rotor cloud defined as the lowest cloud in a group? Choices are rotor, lenticular, cum-stratus.

 

[Slye]

I'd say 'cum-stratus' is usually pretty low down there...but that's just my experience of what I've seen.

 

[JAFI]

Johnny,

What cloud "group" are you talking about?
-----Are you asking about the 4 "families" of clouds from the Aviation Weather AC 00-6A?

"What is a cum-stratus cloud?"

--- Is this a Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, or Stratocumulus cloud?

I wonder if I should ask "What have you been smoking?" but don't tell me, I really do not want to know.



JAFI

 

[JohnnyP]

interview gouge

I wish i knew what they were referring to. It is just a question off of an interview gouge im reading over.

 

[avbug]

Johnny,

The question lacks adequate information. Rotors and lenticular formations are generally found in conditions not conducive to the formation of stratified cloud layers (though not always).

Rotors may form at the bottom of a system adjacent to the change indirection of outflow, marking the bottom of the dowdraft from a cell, or even from the back of a mountain wave. They may mark a turbulent boundary area between layers, or often mark the lee crest of a mountain wave or an area beneath the mountain wave. They may be the very lowest cloud or visible moisture to be seen, or they may not.

The lenticular cloud is often not the lowest cloud, but sometimes is. Typically seen along mountain ridges, these can extend to great altitudes with mountain waves, and generally mark the ridges of the wave action. They may be the lowest cloud in sight, particularly in a drier air mass where no condensation has taken place at lesser altitudes. As moist air is forced upslope, it cools and condenses, forming a visible cloud at a lower elevation than the surrounding visible moisture. Often, however, lenticular formations can be seen above, or at higher altitudes than the surrounding clouds.

Stratus clouds of any kind may be high or low, and their status depends on the system an the airmass.

My guess would be that the best answer to that question would be lenticular, owing to the fact that most of the time, any moisture will be at the elevation of the lenticular, or higher. Again, that's not always the case, and more information about the specific airmass and circumstances would be required to answer the question. The answer varies with the circumstances. Often where a lenticular cloud is to be found, a rotor lies beneath or lower and downwind. And so on. Is there no other information in the question set with your gouge?

 

[JohnnyP]

Thanks for the reply. Sure isnt any more info on the gouge, im just going to put that question away for a while.

 

[Tinstaafl]

The reporter's memory of events could be inexact & the question(er) was trying to refer to the 3 etage model of cloud types?

High: Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus

Medium: Altostratus, Altocumulus

Low: Stratus, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Nimbostratus

 

[phishn@daves]

Johnny,

The question lacks adequate information. Rotors and lenticular formations are generally found in conditions not conducive to the formation of stratified cloud layers (though not always).

Rotors may form at the bottom of a system adjacent to the change indirection of outflow, marking the bottom of the dowdraft from a cell, or even from the back of a mountain wave. They may mark a turbulent boundary area between layers, or often mark the lee crest of a mountain wave or an area beneath the mountain wave. They may be the very lowest cloud or visible moisture to be seen, or they may not.

The lenticular cloud is often not the lowest cloud, but sometimes is. Typically seen along mountain ridges, these can extend to great altitudes with mountain waves, and generally mark the ridges of the wave action. They may be the lowest cloud in sight, particularly in a drier air mass where no condensation has taken place at lesser altitudes. As moist air is forced upslope, it cools and condenses, forming a visible cloud at a lower elevation than the surrounding visible moisture. Often, however, lenticular formations can be seen above, or at higher altitudes than the surrounding clouds.

Stratus clouds of any kind may be high or low, and their status depends on the system an the airmass.

My guess would be that the best answer to that question would be lenticular, owing to the fact that most of the time, any moisture will be at the elevation of the lenticular, or higher. Again, that's not always the case, and more information about the specific airmass and circumstances would be required to answer the question. The answer varies with the circumstances. Often where a lenticular cloud is to be found, a rotor lies beneath or lower and downwind. And so on. Is there no other information in the question set with your gouge?

Are you kidding me? I HOPE you read that and then posted you dork!!!!

This is why I am desperately trying to get out of aviation!!!

"well go and leave a job for someone who wants it"

'well we don't need you"

Well I just hate this industry now and, I cannot see where the future is going to lead me!!! AND...........I hate pilot dorks!

SEE YA!!!

 

[NookyBooky]

Are you kidding me? I HOPE you read that and then posted you dork!!!!

This is why I am desperately trying to get out of aviation!!!

"well go and leave a job for someone who wants it"

'well we don't need you"

Well I just hate this industry now and, I cannot see where the future is going to lead me!!! AND...........I hate pilot dorks!

SEE YA!!!

You spent thousands of dollars on training for a job you hate. You "hate this industry" but you have tons of posts on a website that caters to the flight industry. And you went out of your way to knock Avbug for answering a question.

And he is the dork?

 

[avbug]

Say again? Someone needs their prozac.

 

[phishn@daves]

Say again? Someone needs their prozac.

I know...............I aplogize.

I've been pretty bitter lately with this industry, and to see someone who still enjoys it and knows as much as you, kinda sickens me. Honestly, when I read the post, I did not even read who posted it. AVBUG, I have read your post's before and they are always, both informative, and entertaining!!

Again, I guess the day and the beers got to me.

But still, why the HELL do you know that?

 

[NookyBooky]

I know...............I aplogize.

I've been pretty bitter lately with this industry, and to see someone who still enjoys it and knows as much as you, kinda sickens me. Honestly, when I read the post, I did not even read who posted it. AVBUG, I have read your post's before and they are always, both informative, and entertaining!!

Again, I guess the day and the beers got to me.

But still, why the HELL do you know that?

Most of it should be in the private pilot textbook. Remembering it is a different story though......................