Altostratus cloud

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**Altostratus cloud**
'
Altitude	2,000-5,000 meters
Appearance	sheet or layer
Precipitation Cloud?	Wide areas of rain and snow
Abbreviation	As

Altostratus is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by a generally uniform gray sheet or layer, lighter in color than nimbostratus and darker than cirrostratus. Means "high spread out." Compare also with lower altitude stratus clouds.

Altostratus is caused by a large air mass that is lifted then condensed, usually by an incoming frontal system.

Altostratus clouds can be found over wide-spread areas.

Altostratus clouds are potentially dangerous, because they can cause ice accretion on aircraft.

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Image:Commons-logo.svg	Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Altostratus clouds

National Science Digital Library - Altostratus

v • d • e</div> Clouds
High Clouds (Family A):	Cirrus (Ci) • Cirrus uncinus • Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz colombia • Cirrostratus (Cs) • Cirrocumulus (Cc) • Pileus • Contrail
Middle Clouds (Family B):	Altostratus (As) • Altostratus undulatus • Altocumulus (Ac) • Altocumulus undulatus • Altocumulus mackerel sky • Altocumulus castellanus cloud • Altocumulus lenticularis
Low Clouds (Family C):	Stratus (St) • Nimbostratus (Ns) • Cumulus humilis (Cu) • Cumulus mediocris (Cu) • Stratocumulus (Sc)
Vertical Clouds (Family D):	Cumulonimbus (Cb) • Cumulonimbus incus • Cumulonimbus calvus • Cumulonimbus with mammatus • Cumulus congestus • Pyrocumulus • Pyrocumulonimbus