Forms in stable air and may produce a light mist or drizzle.

Forms in stable air and may produce a light mist or drizzle.

• A. Stratus
• B. Cumulus
• C. Cirrus
• D. Nimbostratus

Answer: (A)

In stable air, vertical air movement is weak, so moisture tends to spread out horizontally and form a low, uniform cloud layer. This creates stratus clouds, which sit as a flat, gray deck across the sky and often bring a light mist or drizzle as the tiny droplets persist in the shallow layer. Cirrus clouds are high and wispy and don’t bring drizzle; cumulus clouds are puffy and driven by rising thermals, typically indicating unstable conditions; nimbostratus produce more widespread, continuous rain rather than light drizzle.

In stable air, vertical air movement is weak, so moisture tends to spread out horizontally and form a low, uniform cloud layer. This creates stratus clouds, which sit as a flat, gray deck across the sky and often bring a light mist or drizzle as the tiny droplets persist in the shallow layer. Cirrus clouds are high and wispy and don’t bring drizzle; cumulus clouds are puffy and driven by rising thermals, typically indicating unstable conditions; nimbostratus produce more widespread, continuous rain rather than light drizzle.