Definition
A high-altitude cloud type, typically forming between 16,000 and 45,000 feet, made up of small white patches or rippled layers of tiny cloud elements. Cirrocumulus clouds are composed mostly of ice crystals, with some supercooled water droplets, and often appear as a fine, grainy pattern across the sky sometimes called a 'mackerel sky.'
Plain English
A high, thin cloud layer that looks like small white ripples or tiny puffs spread across the sky, almost like fish scales.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter cirrocumulus in weather study, preflight weather observations, and visual cloud identification while scanning the sky.
Derivation
From Latin 'cirrus' meaning 'curl' or 'wisp' (the high, wispy cloud family) and 'cumulus' meaning 'heap' or 'pile.' Together it describes a high cloud made of small heaped or rippled elements -- a 'wispy heap' high in the atmosphere.
Why Pilots Care
Signals high-level moisture that can precede changes in weather or visibility at altitude.
Analogy
It can look like small white scales or ripples spread across the sky, sometimes called a mackerel-sky pattern.
Grounding Statement
Picture many tiny white puffs arranged high overhead, more like texture on the sky than large separate clouds.
Intuition Check
Do not read the cumulus part as ordinary low, puffy fair-weather clouds. The cirro part means this is the high-level version, with much smaller-looking cloud elements.
Example Sentence 1
On the morning of the flight, a thin layer of cirrocumulus stretched across the sky in a fine ripple pattern.
Example Sentence 2
Cirrocumulus at flight level indicated possible moisture but no immediate turbulence.