Stratus cloud

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**Stratus cloud**
Image:FrozenField-Stratus.jpg Stratus opacus uniformis
Altitude	Below 2,000 meters (6,000 ft)
Appearance	horizontal layers
Precipitation Cloud?	Yes
Abbreviation	St

This article is about the meteorological phenomenon. For the car, see Dodge Stratus. For the technology firm, see Stratus Technologies.

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A Stratus cloud (St), derived from the Latin word meaning "spread out", is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide (these are termed Cumulus clouds). More specifically, the term Stratus (abbreviated St) is used to describe flat, featureless clouds of low altitude (below 6,500–8,000 feet or 2,400 meters) varying in colour from dark gray to nearly white. These clouds are essentially fog that is above ground level and are formed either through the lifting of morning fog or when cold air moves at low altitudes over a region. These clouds do not usually bring precipitation, although if sufficiently low in altitude to become fog, drizzle or mist may result.

Stratus formations that are accompanied by precipitation are known as nimbostratus. Stratus formations at higher altitudes include altostratus and cirrostratus.

[edit] References

Ackerman, Steven A. and John A. Knox, Meteorology: Understanding the Atmosphere. Brooks Cole, 2003.
USA Today Weather site on stratus clouds

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