What kind of clouds are stratus clouds?

More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds at low altitudes varying in color from dark gray to nearly white. The word stratus comes from the Latin prefix strato-, meaning “layer”. Stratus clouds may produce a light drizzle or a small amount of snow.

What are the 3 types of stratus clouds?

Stratus Cloud Varieties Stratus clouds have three associated cloud varieties: opacus, translucidus, and undulatus.

Is a stratus cloud a rain cloud?

Stratus clouds are uniform and flat, producing a gray layer of cloud cover which may be precipitation-free or may cause periods of light precipitation or drizzle. Thick, dense stratus or stratocumulus clouds producing steady rain or snow often are referred to as nimbostratus clouds.

Is stratus a middle cloud?

Middle clouds are composed of water droplets and/or ice crystals. Low clouds (stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus) can form anywhere from the ground to an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet. Fog is simply a low cloud in contact with the earth’s surface.

Where are the stratus clouds?

Found at very low levels (less than 2000 meters, or 6500 feet), stratus clouds are thick, large, heavy-looking gray clouds that dominate the sky.

How do you identify stratus clouds?

Stratus clouds are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the sky. Usually no precipitation falls from stratus clouds, but they may drizzle. When a thick fog “lifts,” the resulting clouds are low stratus.

Is fog a stratus cloud?

Stratus is used to describe flat, featureless clouds of low altitude, typically less than 300 metres. On the other hand, fog is a stratus cloud in contact with the ground. Horizontal visibility in fog is less than 1 km.

Where are stratus clouds found?

Stratus clouds are the lowest type found in the troposphere; they are often found at ground level as fog or mist.

Where are stratus clouds located?

How is stratus clouds formed?

How do stratus clouds form? Stratus clouds form in calm, stable conditions when gentle breezes raise cool, moist air over colder land or ocean surfaces. These clouds can exist in a variety of thicknesses and are sometimes opaque enough to darken days, allowing for little light to pass through.

Are stratus clouds in the stratosphere?

What does a nimbus cloud look like?

A nimbus cloud is dark and already has rain or snow falling from it. These clouds can be puffy or look like a blanket, but they are always dark and usually seen during a thunderstorm along with thunder and lightning.

What are stratus clouds and what are they like?

Stratus clouds tend to be featureless, low altitude clouds that cover the sky in a blanket of white or grey. What are stratus clouds? Stratus clouds are low-level layers with a fairly uniform grey or white colour.

What is the difference between nimbostratus and Stratus?

Nimbostratus clouds are formed when a slowly rising warm air mass collides with stratus clouds. The nimbostratus cloud is a mid-altitude cloud, occurring higher in the atmosphere than stratus clouds do. Another type of stratus cloud is the altostratus cloud. These clouds have a blue appearance, and also occur at low altitudes.

What type of clouds are cirrostratus?

Cirrostratus clouds are the first type of stratus clouds. Their name indicates their structure: cirro meaning wispy and stratus meaning with layers. Thus, cirrostratus clouds are wispy clouds with layers or sheets. They occur very high in altitude, as all cirrus clouds do, at around 18,000 feet or above.

What is the difference between nimbostratus clouds and cumulus clouds?

Nimbostratus clouds are generally thick, dense stratus or stratocumulus clouds producing steady rain or snow . In contrast to layered, horizontal stratus, cumulus clouds are more cellular (individual) in nature, have flat bottoms and rounded tops, and grow vertically.