Lenticular cloud
| Lenticular cloud | |
|---|---|
Dramatic lenticular cloud formation over Harold's Cross, Dublin | |
| Genus | stratocumulus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus |
| Species | lenticularis (Latin: lentil) |
| Altitude | up to 12,000 m (40,000 ft) |
| Appearance | lens-like, saucer-shaped |
| Precipitation | virga only |
Lenticular clouds (from Latin lenticularis 'lentil-shaped', from lenticula 'lentil') are stationary clouds that form mostly in the troposphere, typically in parallel alignment to the wind direction. They are often comparable in appearance to a lens or saucer. Nacreous clouds that form in the lower stratosphere sometimes have lenticular shapes.
There are three main types of lenticular clouds: altocumulus standing lenticular (ACSL), stratocumulus standing lenticular (SCSL), and cirrocumulus standing lenticular (CCSL), varying in altitude above the ground.