⛅Get the 80+ page ebook straight into your inbox for free. Only light precipitation, generally in the form of drizzle, occurs with stratocumulus clouds. (from: wikipedia - stratocumulus cloud) They are the most common clouds on earth recognised by their well-defined bases, with some parts often darker than others. Weak convective currentscreate shallow cloud layers because of drier, stable air above preventing continued vertical development. Only light rain (usually drizzle) falls from stratocumulus clouds.
Latin Term: …………… Derives from strato-, meaning layer, and cumulo-, meaning heap
Stratocumulus clouds belong to the Low Cloud (surface-2000m) group. They come in various cloud species that describe forms of rising turret formations (More dramatic versions of stratocumulus clouds include (but aren’t limited to) chaotic and wavy features (Stratocumulus clouds have five associated cloud species: castellanus, floccus, lenticularis, stratiformis, and volutus.Stratocumulus clouds have seven associated cloud species: duplicatus, lacunosus, opacus, perlucidus, radiatus, translucidus, and undulatus.Stratocumulus clouds have six supplementary features: asperitas, cavum, fluctus, mamma, praecipitatio, and virga.Stratocumulus clouds don’t have any accessory clouds or other clouds associated with this cloud type. It is a low-level cloud, thus it usually forms within the lowest two kilometers (6,600 ft) of the atmosphere. Stratocumulus is a member of the ten fundamental cloud types (or cloud genera). A stratocumulus cloud, occasionally called a cumulostratus, belongs to a genus-type of clouds characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus, and the whole being at a lower height, usually below 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).