Perlucidus (cloud variety)

{{Short description|Variety of cumulus clouds}}

{{Infobox Cloud

|name=Perlucidus

|image location=Altocumulus rizado NL.jpg

|image name=Altocumulus perlucidus

|abbreviation=pe

|symbol=

|genus=stratocumulus, altocumulus

|species=

|variety=perlucidus

|altitude_m=500-7,000

|altitude_ft= 2,000-23,000

| level = mid

|appearance=Cloud cover with small gaps that make higher cloud types be visible

|precipitation=Depends on the cloud type this variety is appearing in

}}

Perlucidus is a cloud variety that generally appears in only two cloud types, those being altocumulus and stratocumulus. Perlucidus cloud is easily recognizable by the small ubiquitous gaps that let higher clouds be seen.{{Cite web|url=https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/clouds-varieties-perlucidus.html|title=Perlucidus|website=International Cloud Atlas}} It forms when shallow convection starts in a cloud layer that did not previously have perlucidus variety characteristics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/altocumu.htm|title=ALTOCUMULUS PERLUCIDUS CLOUDS|website=www.backyardnature.net}} The gaps between the cloud indicate regions where air is sinking.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-02 |title=Stratocumulus: These low, lumpy cloud layers form below 6,000 feet and can appear in rows, patches or as rounded masses with blue sky in between the cloud elements. The color of stratocumulus clouds can range from white to dark gray. Precipitation rarely falls from stratocumulus clouds. The individual cloud elements form where the air is rising while the blue sky in between the cloud elements indicates sinking air. |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/wstratus.htm |access-date=2022-02-04 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200113/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/wstratus.htm |archive-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead}} This cloud variety may appear either as a translucent cloud or an opaque cloud.