Altocumulus/mackerel/buttermilk sky #1 by goodoleboy
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
I'M BAAAAACCCKK!
Oh, have you been away? We really hadn't noticed....
Yes, I was absent due to automobile, medical and new computer conversion activities, all of which were most unpleasant.
In any event, one of fifty-three shots I took of this atmospheric phenomena on the early morning of 3/9/14, snapped within several blocks of my comparatively congenial condominium complex.
A mackerel or buttermilk sky describes a sky mostly covered by altocumulus clouds. It is rare with altocumulus and extremely rare in its cirrocumulus form. The occurrence of these clouds is an indicator of moisture and instability at intermediate levels (2400-6100 m, 8000-20,000 ft). Rain showers or thunderstorms may occur should any lower cumulus clouds reach the layer of the altocumulus form.
However, the most common reason for the occurrence of a mackerel sky is an old, disintegrating frontal system. The cloud was probably originally altostratus and has been broken up into altocumulus as the weather front disintegrates (usually as a result of encountering an area of high atmospheric pressure). Little, if any rain most often follows a mackerel sky. Another common place that it is found is in the warm sector of a depression preceding the cold front and associated showery weather, however usually here it is obscured by lower stratus clouds.
Source: Wikipedia free encyclopedia.
Bye bye.
Comments (14)
bebopdlx
A very different looking sky, nice shot.
magnus073
Nice work on this very dramatic capture, Harry.
jocko500
wow this is cool looking sky
MrsRatbag
Wow, what a spectacular capture for your re-entry shot, Harry; amazing and dramatic light and wonderful detail. I hope most if not all of your trials and tribulations have resolved in a happy manner!
Osper
WHoa! trippy! Neat!
MagikUnicorn
Beautiful sky
monjo71
Beautiful.
claude19
this beautifully shot in the introduction of a small stream on the origin of these clouds we call in France "a sheeps sky," heralding rain!
durleybeachbum
I was seriously considering mailing you to see if you were still above ground. So this terrific pic is something of a relief.
anahata.c
a beautiful carpeting in the sky, and your light and contrasts are quite sensuous. Fine job on the light and textures---it looks like a big shag carpet, made of cashmere. (Which would make this one expensive cloud-cover.) And the street below---man, it looks like a scene from a post-nuclear world where everything is grayed out and little life is left. Very eerie---with the palm trees brushing into the clouds. A helluva return after an absence, you posted with a bang. Also, you got the sun lighting the lower portion of the clouds, like light falling on very shiny wool. Beautiful, Harry. And I wish you everything in the world for your medical matters. (Also with the computer madness. All those tiny icons, and they wreak total havoc in one's life. Amazing isn't it?) But a beautiful piece of work, while you're battling the Mac gods... (I'll come back for more after a few days, as this week has a ton of stuff to be done upfront. But I'll be back soon...)
sharky_
Amazing cloud formation. Aloha
debbielove
Wow! Now that's a SKY!!!! An outstanding capture Harry.. And, can I welcome you back.. Rob
racolt33
What a gorgeous shot of our southern California sky. This is certainly an extremely rare find. The palm trees set your foreground beautifully. Was there much postwork efforts here? Great perspective! :-)
pauldeleu
An excellent picture.