cirrus
cirrus // latin, “curl”or “tuft of hair”
the highest clouds in the atmosphere
typically forming above 20,000 feet (~11 world trade centers)
cirrus: whispy, delicate, transparent high clouds covering large areas of the sky. they can span thousands of miles, and are primarily composed of ice crystals.
cirrus: likely to form near the core of a jetengine’s stream and are shaped by strong winds, streaking across the sky in elongated patterns parallel to the jet stream’s direction.
cirrus: the angle of the sun's rays passing through the atmosphere changes, scattering shorter blue and green wavelengths while allowing longer red and orange wavelengths to dominate the sky. cirrus clouds catch and reflect these warm hues, creating a spectacular canvas of colors ranging from golden yellows to deep reds.
cirrus: weatherwise, they indicate the advance of a warm front - a change in the weather is on the way. they are associated with high-altitude turbulence; pilots tend to navigate around them.