What is another name for stratus clouds?
n. altostratus cloud, altostratus.
What type of cloud is stratus?
What are stratus clouds? Stratus clouds are low-level layers with a fairly uniform grey or white colour. Often the scene of dull, overcast days in its ‘nebulosus’ form, they can persist for long periods of time. They are the lowest-lying cloud type and sometimes appear at the surface in the form of mist or fog.
What is the name of rain clouds?
The prefix “nimbo-” or the suffix “-nimbus” are low-level clouds that have their bases below 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above the Earth. Clouds that produce rain and snow fall into this category. (“Nimbus” comes from the Latin word for “rain.”) Two examples are the nimbostratus or cumulonimbus clouds.
What are mid and high level stratus clouds called?
Cloud cross-classification throughout the homosphere
| Form Level | Stratiform non-convective | Stratocumuliform limited-convective |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-level | Altostratus | Altocumulus |
| Towering vertical | ||
| Multi-level or moderate vertical | Nimbostratus | |
| Low-level | Stratus | Stratocumulus |
What do stratus clouds indicate?
If you see stratus clouds, that’s the time to get inside and stay there. Stratus clouds mean rain if it is warm and snow if it is cold. They look like a huge gray blanket that hangs low in the sky. Sometimes stratus clouds are on the ground or very near the ground, and then we call them fog.
What makes a stratus cloud?
The formation of stratus clouds occurs when a sheet of cool air passes under a sheet of moist, warm air. At the layer where these two sheets meet, the warm upper air is cooled to condensation and forms a stratus cloud. The cloud will extend as far as the overlap between the sheets of air.
Where are stratus clouds found?
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.
What is a thunderhead cloud?
Definition of thunderhead : a rounded mass of cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud often appearing before a thunderstorm.
What type of front is associated with stratus clouds?
Cold fronts
Cold fronts occur when heavy cold air displaces lighter warm air, pushing it upward. Cumulus clouds are the most common cloud types that are produced by cold fronts. They often grow into cumulonimbus clouds, which produce thunderstorms. Cold fronts can also produce nimbostratus, stratocumulus, and stratus clouds.
What are associated with stratus clouds?
What Weather is Associated with Stratus Clouds? Stratus clouds are associated with foggy weather conditions. They are thick enough to accommodate only little light, thus producing a dark effect and little rainfall. Instead of rainfall, they produce light snow.
Where are stratus clouds located?
Stratus clouds are the lowest type found in the troposphere; they are often found at ground level as fog or mist. Displaying a dull gray appearance, they rarely produce any precipitation.
What is the difference between Stratus clouds and altostratus clouds?
Stratus clouds are often so low that they turn into ground-based fog. Altostratus and cirrostratus are two forms of clouds that appear higher up in the troposphere, while nimbostratus are associated with rain and oncoming storms. These clouds can also create a halo effect around the moon and stars when they are thinner and more hazy.
What type of clouds are associated with rain?
— John Ruskin Nimbostratus clouds are another type of cloud that often brings rain. If you look up at the sky and there is nothing but a uniform, gray, low layer of clouds you’re probably viewing nimbostratus clouds. Nimbostratus clouds are thick with water and block out sunlight, and they form at low or middle altitudes.
How do meteorologists classify clouds?
The different terms that meteorologists use to classify clouds are based upon a combination of the appearance of the clouds and the altitude of the clouds. Clouds that are found at low levels include cumulus clouds, stratocumulus clouds, and stratus clouds.
What are the different types of nimbus clouds?
Nimbus clouds can also bring rain, snow, or hail. The suffix “nimbus” or the prefix “nimbo” is used to refer to two different kinds of rain clouds, cumulonimbus, and nimbostratus. While these two forms of clouds are usually said to be rain clouds, rain can also come from other types of clouds, though more rarely.