(Sc)
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Height of base: |
Between 600 and
2000 m (2000-6500 ft) (low-level clouds) |
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Description: |
Distinct layer of
heaps and rolls, dark shading in
base; bright on top loose layers,
elements are touching >5º across,
larger than the width of 3 fingers across at 30º above horizon |
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|
Occurrence: |
World-wide; most
common cloud genus |
|
|
Made of: |
water droplets |
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Precipitation: |
Mostly none; occasionally
light rain or snow reaching ground |
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Formation: |
-
cumulus
can join by accumulating under a temperature inversion -
stratus
can develop thermals by preferential temperature increase at bottom versus
colder tops |
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|
Species: |
Stratiformis, lenticularis,
castellanus |
|
|
Varieties: |
Opacus,
translucidus, perlucidus, undulatus, duplicatus, radiatus, lacunosus |
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How to
distinguish from … |
Cumulus (Cu) |
Cu do not touch,
Sc has flatter top |
|
Altocumulus (Ac) |
Cloud elements are
smaller than 3 fingers width at 30º above horizon Higher than 2000
m |
|
|
Stratus (St) |
St indistinct
layer with much less variation in tone than Sc layer |
|
|
Stratocumulus with embedded
congestus and Calvus (see rain core) Morris, Sep06 |
Stratocumulus stratiformis
perlucidus (Morris, November 2006) |
Stratocumulus stratiformis
opacus (Morris, January 2007) |
|
Stratocumulus, End of passage of a warm front Glenwood, Sep 08 |
Stratocumulus castellanus Morris, July07 |
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Last
modified: 1/18/2008
Maintained
by Sylke Boyd