TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

FRACTOCUMULUS [3 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2003-04-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
DEF

A stratus cloud presenting a ragged, shredded appearance, as if torn.

CONT

Fractostratus - Fs. The prefix ’Fracto’ basically means broken or fractured. Thus, Fractostratus clouds are relatively low-level uniform grey clouds that are beginning to break up with increased low level winds.

CONT

Fractostratus Clouds. ... are small, thin, unorganized tatters that typically condense in the moisture beneath nimbostratus or cumulonimbus clouds. ... The bases of these clouds are usually found near the ground to around 6,500 feet.

CONT

... fractostratus: ... Almost always composed of water droplets.

OBS

Fractostratus Clouds. ... [Aircraft] pilots often refer to these clouds as "scud".

OBS

... fractostratus ... are also called SCUD clouds if they are below another deck of higher clouds as in this picture.

OBS

"Scud" is a popular term used by storm observers for shredded cloud material (fractus) of all types.

OBS

Fractostratus... differs from a fractocumulus cloud in having a smaller vertical extent and darker color.

OBS

fractus (fra): ... This term applies only to Stratus and Cumulus.

Key term(s)
  • fracto stratus
  • fracto-stratus
  • fracto stratus cloud
  • fracto-stratus cloud

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
DEF

Nuages très sombres et très déchiquetés, qu'on voit courir sur le fond gris du ciel.

CONT

[...] La zone centrale ou corps du système nuageux qui est la partie la plus active où l'on trouve des vents forts et des nuages épais (2 000 à 4 000 m d'épaisseur) du genre altostratus, nimbostratus et parfois cumulonimbus, générateurs de pluies et doublés de nuages déchiquetés paraissant courir sous les précédents, les fractostratus [...]

Key term(s)
  • fracto-stratus
  • fracto stratus

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Física de la atmósfera
Save record 1

Record 2 2003-02-28

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
CONT

nimbus: in meteorology, low, dark, formless cloud covering the entire sky, from which rain or snow is steadily falling. The term is usually applied to any cloud from which rain descends. Modifications are cumulonimbus, fractonimbus (ragged, broken nimbus), and nimbostratus.

CONT

Fractonimbus, or scud, is stratus that has been broken up by high winds.

OBS

fractus (fra): Clouds in the form of irregular shreds, which have a clearly ragged appearance. This term applies only to Stratus and Cumulus.

OBS

"Scud" is a popular term used by storm observers for shredded cloud material(fractus) of all types [fractostratus, fractocumulus].

Key term(s)
  • fracto-nimbus
  • fracto nimbus
  • fracto-nimbus cloud
  • fracto nimbus cloud
  • fractonimbus cloud

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
CONT

Les lambeaux de nuées basses et noirâtres, que les météorologistes appellent fracto-nimbus, les marins français «diablotins» et les marins anglais «scuds» accompagnent souvent les cyclones.

CONT

Regardez les nuages qui passent autour de moi, ils sont presque aussi beaux que les noms latins à rallonge qui les accompagnent : Fractonimbus, Stratocumulus castellanus, [...]

OBS

fractus (fra): Nuages en forme de lambeaux irréguliers, ayant un aspect nettement déchiqueté. Ce terme s'applique seulement aux Stratus et Cumulus [fractostratus, fractocumulus].

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2003-02-26

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
DEF

A cumulus cloud presenting a ragged, shredded appearance, as if torn.

CONT

Fractocumulus Clouds... are small, thin, unorganized puffs that do not exhibit the billowing form of their larger cumulus relatives.... The bases of these clouds are usually found from near the ground to around 6, 500 feet. Dissipating cumulus clouds often disolve into fractocumulus.

CONT

... Fractocumulus... are low clouds that often develop in regions of strong winds or where larger cumulus elements begin to break down late in the day or when instability weakens.... Comprised mostly of water droplets.

OBS

Fractocumulus Clouds... are sometimes referred to as "scud" by [aircraft] pilots, though that term is more often applied to fractostratus.

OBS

"Scud" is a popular term used by storm observers for shredded cloud material (fractus) of all types.

OBS

fractus (fra): ... This term applies only to Stratus and Cumulus.

Key term(s)
  • fracto cumulus
  • fracto-cumulus
  • fracto cumulus cloud
  • fracto-cumulus cloud
  • scud cloud

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
CONT

Un cumulus typique est celui qui se développe par temps clair et doit sa naissance aux courants diurnes (qui s'accomplit pendant le jour) de convection : il apparaît le matin, se gonfle ensuite et se résorbe en fin de journée. Il est nettement limité en haut et en bas, on observe aussi un nuage qui ressemble au cumulus mais qui est déchiqueté et dont les diverses parties présentent de continuels changements : ce sont les fractocumulus. Les cumulus sont principalement constitués par des gouttelettes d'eau, lorsqu'ils ont une grande extension verticale, ils donnent lieu à des précipitations sous forme d'averses de pluie.

Key term(s)
  • fracto-cumulus
  • fracto cumulus

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Física de la atmósfera
Save record 3

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