What is the difference between stratus and nimbostratus clouds

Scientists have organized clouds into ten broad categories. Cloud altitude levels, temperature, wind, and other conditions determine what type of cloud will form. To help you identify the different types of clouds, there are four qualities you can use that all clouds have.

Height : Where in the sky the cloud typically occurs low-level, mid-level, or high-level. Weather : The weather the cloud is usually associated with or predicts. Description: Altocumulus clouds are fairly common clouds that look like round white or gray patches in the sky. They are sometimes grouped in parallel lines and have been described as looking similar to tufts of wool or fish scales. These clouds form a white or gray layer that blankets the sky at mid-level. There are usually no patches of blue sky when these clouds appear, but the sun is often visible as a dimly lit disk behind the clouds although no shadows appear on the ground.

Cirrocumulus clouds are much smaller than most other types of clouds, and they are sometimes called cloudlets. They are found at high altitudes and are made of ice crystals. They often are arranged in parallel rows. These are transparent, wispy clouds that cover most or all of the sky. Nimbostratus clouds are associated with rainy, dreary days. Either way, these clouds are best known precipitation and might be the cause for your outdoor activities to be postponed.

The thickness of a nimbostratus cloud helps give it a darker appearance than most. Of the ten main cloud types, only two are consistent precipitation producers: nimbostratus and cumulonimbus. Nimbostratus are responsible for continuous precipitation where cumulonimbus are more likely associated with more dramatic weather, including quick-hitting extreme downpours.

Roses are red, everyone loves freebies, but nimbostratus clouds have no associated cloud species. Both cumulonimbus clouds and nimbostratus clouds have precipitation, and when underneath the two, it might be tough to differentiate the two.

When deciding between nimbostratus and stratocumulus clouds , remember that nimbostratus clouds are associated with rain, whereas stratocumulus clouds only rain on the rarest of occasions. Latin Derivatives: altus - "high" and cumulus - "heap". Altostratus As The base of an altostratus cloud is found within the same levels as the altocumulus cloud. These clouds are much larger in size as they may stretch for miles, similar to stratus clouds.

They are comprised of ice crystals and water droplets. In thinner altostratus clouds, the sun may be dimly visible, commonly referred to as a "watery sun". If this cloud begins to precipitate, the base usually lowers, classifying it as a nimbostratus.

Latin Derivatives: altus - "high" and stratus - "layer". Cirrus Ci Cirrus clouds are composed mainly of ice crystals due to their height in the atmosphere m, 20, ft and above. The dryness of the air higher in the atmosphere contributes to their thin, wispy look. These clouds generally occur with fair weather and are the ones usually responsible for those beautiful midwestern sunsets.

They usually indicate the direction of the winds at their elevation. The "tails" demonstrated in the photo at the left are commonly called "mares' tails". These clouds are also responsible for Wichita meteorologist Dave Freeman's favorite phrase: "Nothing serious, just a little cirrus! Cirrocumulus Cc Cirrocumulus clouds are found in the same high levels as cirrus.

Spreading cumulonimbus clouds may also lead to the formation of nimbostratus. Stratus clouds are composed of thin layers of clouds covering a large area of the sky. This is simply mist or fog when it forms close to the ground.

You can easily distinguish a stratus cloud by the long horizontal layers of cloud which have a fog-like appearance. The clouds form from large air masses that rise to the atmosphere and later condense. These are pretty benign in terms of rainfall producing light showers or even light snow if the temperatures fall below freezing.

However, if enough moisture is retained at the ground level, the cloud can transform into a nimbostratus. Stratus clouds are very common all over the world most especially in the coastal and mountainous regions. Cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds are a sign of fair weather, though they may discharge rains sometimes in form of a light shower. You can find them virtually everywhere in the world expected for the Polar regions.

Cumulonimbus is fluffy and white like cumulus but the cloud formations are far larger. For the same reason, cumulonimbus is both a low-level and high-level type of cloud.

At the low-altitude base, the cloud is mostly made of water droplets but the high-altitude summit is dominated by ice crystals. The rain comes and goes with this cloud but when it does, it can come pouring.

Stratocumulus looks like a thick white blanket of stretched out cotton. The base is well-defined and flat but the upper part of the cloud is ragged due to convection with the cloud itself. Depending on the thickness of the cloud, a stratocumulus will have light to dark gray hues.