15.3. Stratus (Layer) Clouds

As their name implies, these are layered clouds covering large portions of the sky. These clouds are generally formed either due to loss of heat or the mixing of air masses with different temperatures.

The rain bearing clouds are generally the low level clouds and are given the prefix or suffix-

‘nimbus’, a Latin word meaning a rainy cloud.

Note: Whichever clouds you see in the sky these might be one or more of their types or their combinations or even in changed appearances.