Perlucidus

Definition

A cloud variety describing a layer of broad elements with distinct but small gaps between them, through which the sky or a higher cloud layer can be seen. It applies to altocumulus and stratocumulus.

Field note

Perlucidus is the open form of a stratocumulus deck and behaves very differently from the closed opacus form: it is more likely to break up further and much less likely to produce drizzle.

Related terms

• Opacus · opacus
• Stratocumulus · Stratocumulus
• Translucidus · translucidus