Cirrus clouds—thin, high-altitude streaks that paint the sky—may be forming in a surprising way. New research shows that some of these delicate clouds are seeded by storm systems thousands of miles away on the opposite side of the planet.
Scientists traditionally recognised two types of cirrus: “anvil” cirrus spreading from storms, and “in-situ” cirrus that appear to form independently. But a new computer analysis of satellite data revealed that supposed in-situ clouds actually respond to massive atmospheric waves generated by distant storms.
According to a study in AGU Advances, these waves travel across the equator and subtly alter upper-atmosphere temperatures, creating conditions for cirrus to form.
Because cirrus clouds allow sunlight in but trap heat, they contribute to global warming. Researchers now want to understand how shifts in global storm patterns—driven by climate change—might affect the amount and distribution of cirrus clouds.
