Table of Contents
What are low gray clouds called?
Stratus
1. Stratus: Thin, gray-white, sheetlike clouds with low bases covering the whole sky.
What cloud is low to the earth under 2000 m?
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in altitude unless they are the more vertical cumulus congestus form….Cumulus cloud.
| Cumulus | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 200–2,000 m (1,000–7,000 ft) |
| Classification | Family C (Low-level) |
| Appearance | Low-altitude, fluffy heaps of clouds with cotton-like appearance. |
What are thick low clouds called?
Stratocumulus also can be thought of as a layer of cloud clumps with thick and thin areas. These clouds appear frequently in the atmosphere, either ahead of or behind a frontal system. Thick, dense stratus or stratocumulus clouds producing steady rain or snow often are referred to as nimbostratus clouds.
What is a low dark rain cloud?
A nimbostratus cloud is a multi-level, amorphous, nearly uniform and often dark grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow or sleet but no lightning or thunder. Nimbostratus usually produces precipitation over a wide area. Nimbo- is from the Latin word nimbus, which denotes cloud or halo.
Are stratus clouds high or low?
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. Precipitation normally does not occur with this cloud, although drizzle or mist may be observed.
What are the 3 types of stratus clouds?
Stratus Cloud Varieties Stratus clouds have three associated cloud varieties: opacus, translucidus, and undulatus.
What does a low stratus cloud look like?
When low stratus clouds begin to deliver rain, they are called nimbostratus. This cloud is dark, gray, and appears flat at the base. The storm has arrived when nimbostratus appears. The precipitation is steady, not showery. Usually, the rain will come down at a light to moderate rate, and it will last a good part of the day, or even longer.
What kind of clouds are in the middle of the sky?
Generally speaking, middle clouds form at elevations ranging from about 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). Because these clouds are lower than the high-flying type, they can consist of both water droplets and ice crystals. The “alto” clouds fall in this category: altostratus and altocumulus.
How are stratocumulus clouds formed in the sky?
The surface of the base is flat and the top takes the form similar to that of a cotton ball. The stratus or stratocumulus clouds are formed when the updraft is very weak. They spread evenly across the sky, without forming a specific shape.
What are the characteristics of a white cloud?
Separated clouds that are white with delicate filaments or are in banks. Or they can be in narrow strips that are completely white or a mostly white color. These clouds have a delicate and silky or shiny and fibrous appearance.