Cirrocumulus lenticularis

{{Short description|Type of cloud}}

{{Infobox Cloud

|name=Cirrocumulus lenticularis

|image location=Cirrocumulus lenticularis clouds 1.jpg

|image name=Cirrocumulus lenticularis clouds, during a cold front |abbreviation=Cc len

|symbol=Clouds CH 9.svg

|genus=Cirro- (curl)
-cumulus (heaped)

|species=lenticularis (lens-shaped)

|variety=

|altitude_m=Above 6,000

|altitude_ft=Above 20,000

| level = high

|appearance=lens- or almond-shaped

|precipitation=Virga only}}

Cirrocumulus lenticularis is a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The name cirrocumulus lenticularis is derived from Latin, meaning "like a lentil".{{cite web |title=Definition of lenticularis |url=http://latinlexicon.org/definition.php?p1=2032424 |accessdate=13 July 2011 |author=Numen - The Latin Lexicon}} Cirrocumulus lenticularis are smooth clouds that have the appearance of a lens or an almond. They usually form at the crests of atmospheric waves, which would otherwise be invisible. This species of cirrocumulus can often be quite elongated and normally has very distinguished boundaries. Cirrocumulus lenticularis forms when stable air is forced upward; this is usually due to orographic features, but can occur away from mountains as well.{{cite book |last=Dunlop |first=Storm |title=The weather identification handbook |year=2003 |publisher=Lyons Press |location=Guilford, Conn. |isbn=1-58574-857-9 |pages=66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KoZMvgAACAAJ|edition=1st Lyons Press}} Irisation can occasionally occur with these clouds.{{cite web |last=Callanan |first=Martin |title=Cirrocumulus lenticularis |url=http://nephology.eu/cirrocumulus/cirrocumulus-lenticularis |work=International Cloud Atlas |publisher=nephology.eu |accessdate=13 July 2011 |archive-date=25 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225133844/http://nephology.eu/cirrocumulus/cirrocumulus-lenticularis |url-status=dead }}