Undulatus Asperatus: Newly Discovered Cloud Reminiscent of Choppy Seas

Summary: Undulatus Asperatus, a newly discovered cloud formation, may be the first addition to the International Cloud Atlas since 1951's cirrus intortus.

Jane Wiggins' photo that started movement for recognition of undulatus aspseratus, the people's cloud, as new cloud type: USA Today Weather @ usatodayweather via Twitter June 22, 2015

Clouds are one of the most familiar, obvious and prevalent of the natural phenomena found within the boundaries of Earth, the Blue Planet that orbits as the third planet around the sun. Meteorologists, scientists who study the atmosphere, define a cloud as an atmospheric suspension of a visible mass of condensed or crystallized droplets of water above the surface of a planetary body.

The etymology of the word "cloud" harkens back to the Old English word clud, meaning "mass of rock." By the 12th century, during the High Middle Ages (11th to 13th centuries), the definition of clud had expanded metaphorically, due to perceived similarities between cumulus (Latin for "heap, mass") clouds and rock masses, to supplant the Old English word weolcan as the designation for the sky's water-based formations. The study of clouds, as a branch of meteorology, is known as nephology (Ancient Greek: νέφος, néphos, “cloud” + λόγος, lógos, “explanation”).

Most clouds and almost all weather occur in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. The troposphere extends its bottom at the Earth's surface upward to its top, which varies in height according to latitude and season.

The troposphere generally exhibits an extension of 33,000 feet (10 kilometers; or 6.2 miles) upward from sea level. The troposphere measures its low of 23,000 feet (7 kilometers; or 4 miles) at polar latitudes in winter. Its high of 65,000 feet (20 kilometers; or, 12 miles) occurs near the equator in summer.

Cloud names reflect such characteristics as their height in the sky and their appearance, or texture.

Low-altitude clouds, which occur below 6,500 feet (1.98 kilometers), feature cumulo-/-cumulus (Latin: cumulus, "pile, heap") and/or strato-/-stratus (Latin: stratus, "spreading, layer") in their names.

Mid-altitude clouds, which occur between 6,500 feet (1.98 kilometers) and 20,000 feet (6 kilometers), are named with alto- (Latin: altus, "high, lofty") as prefix.

High-altitude clouds, which occur above about 20,000 feet (6 kilometers), are distinguished by names with cirro- (Latin: cirrus, "curl") as prefix.

Cloud classification consists of 10 basic genera by altitude of occurrence.

The world of clouds is documented in The International Cloud Atlas, first published in 1896 by the International Meteorological Organization and continued by its successor, the World Meteorological Organization. The WMO is an intergovernmental organization of the United Nations based in Geneva, in western Switzerland.

The most recent edition of the atlas was published in 1975. The last instance of a new entry recognizing a newly discovered cloud formation occurred in 1951 with the addition of cirrus intortus (Latin: cirrus, "curl" + intortus, "twisted, wound") to the cloud roster.

A recent cloud discovery may trigger and grace a new edition of the atlas. Undulatus asperatus (Latin: undulatus, "undulated, wavy" + intortus, "agitated, roughened") is currently under assessment by the WMO, with acceptance deemed to occur in 2015. Undulatus asperatus clouds appear to straddle low to middle altitudes, being found above and below 6,000 feet.

On June 20, 2006, Jane Wiggins, a paralegal who is an amateur photographer in east central Iowa, photographed low clouds, undulating with dark and light shadows against a green-yellow backdrop over downtown Cedar Rapids. Within 15 minutes of her photograph, the dramatic, massive formation dissipated.

Other images from around the globe joined Jane's searing image to inspire Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society and author of The Cloudspotter's Guide (2006), to name the formation and to seek official classification. Gavin's name choice of undulatus asperatus reflects the cloud's reminiscence of choppy seas. Gavin's nickname for the startling cloud is the Jacques Cousteau cloud, in honor of legendary underseas explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau (June 11, 1910-June 25, 1997).

Although a rare phenomenon with only recent documentation, undulatus asperatus clouds are not necessarily emblematic of underlying conditions, such as climate change. Gavin credits the recent awareness of the unusual formation's existence to easy availability of a plethora of portable, high-quality photographic devices in the technologically savvy 21st century. Despite their sometimes menacing, spectacular appearance, undulatus asperatus clouds do not function as storm harbingers.

According to research conducted by Graeme Anderson for his 2010 dissertation in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading in south east England, undulatus asperatus clouds seem to form in the conditions that produce mammatus (Latin: mamma, "breast, udder") clouds. Mammatus clouds, also known as mammatocumulus, are characterized by puffy, smooth pouches hanging from a cloud base and are formed in environments of moisture, sharp temperature gradients and wind shear (difference in wind direction and speed).

As with mammatus clouds, the WMO may view undulatus asperatus as a cloud supplementary feature.

Whatever the official outcome, the photographs of undulatus asperatus and the ensuing information gathering serve as inspiring spotlights on the dedication and efficacy of citizen science, also known as crowd-sourced science, which refers to contributions to science made by the general public.

Undulatus asperatus shines as the people's cloud.

Cloud genus classification by altitude of occurrence: Valentin de Bruyn/Coton, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Jane Wiggins' undulatus asperatus photo: "ICYMI: 'New' cloud hopes to have its day in the sun. #asperatus #undulatus.": USA TODAY Weather‏ @usatodayweather via Twitter of June 22, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/usatodayweather/status/612984084915167233

cloud genus classification by altitude of occurrence: Valentin de Bruyn/Coton, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_types_en.svg

For further information:

“Cloud Classification and Characteristics.” NOAA National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office/Louisville, KY.
Available @ http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=cloud_classification

Crumb, Michael J. “Iowa woman’s photo sparks push for new cloud type.” Phys.org > Earth > Earth Sciences. June 12, 2009.
Available @ http://phys.org/news163990239.html

“Have You Spotted an Asperatus Cloud?” The Cloud Appreciation Society. Sept. 28, 2012.
Available @ http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/asperatus-clouds-in-the-headlines/

Lobello, Carmel. "Photos of undulatus asperatus, the first crowd-sourced cloud." Death and Taxes. Sept. 24, 2012.
Available @ http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/188904/photos-of-undulatus-asperatus-the-first-crowd-sourced-cloud/

O’Callaghan, Jonathan. “Will this be the first new cloud type in 60 years? ‘Undulatus asperatus’ seeks official classification in international atlas.” Daily Mail > Science. Dec. 18, 2014.
Available @ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2878855/Could-new-cloud-type-60-years-Undulatus-asperatus-seeks-official-classification-international-atlas.html

Schueth, Alex. "Undulatus Asperatus." YouTube. July 9, 2014.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz7BgxrVmiQ

“The Troposphere – Overview.” UCAR Center for Science Education.
Available @ https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/troposphere-overview

USA TODAY Weather‏ @usatodayweather. "ICYMI: 'New' cloud hopes to have its day in the sun. #asperatus #undulatus." Twitter. June 22, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/usatodayweather/status/612984084915167233