Which cloud type possesses characteristics of both stratus and cumulus clouds and often appears as closely spaced clusters or rolls of clouds, with clear sky in between?

Which cloud type possesses characteristics of both stratus and cumulus clouds and often appears as closely spaced clusters or rolls of clouds, with clear sky in between?

• A. Stratocumulus
• B. Thicker and darker than, but similar in form to a stratus cloud.
• C. Cumulus
• D. Turbulence

Answer: (A)

Stratocumulus are low-level clouds that blend features of stratus and cumulus. They form a broad, layered field with rounded masses that often appear in closely spaced clusters or rolls, and you can see patches of clear sky between them. This combination—a sheet-like base with distinct, puffy elements and gaps of blue—fits the description best. It’s different from pure cumulus, which tends to be individual, isolated puffs, and from a uniform stratus layer, which covers more evenly with little break in the sky. The option describing turbulence isn’t a cloud type, so it doesn’t apply.

Stratocumulus are low-level clouds that blend features of stratus and cumulus. They form a broad, layered field with rounded masses that often appear in closely spaced clusters or rolls, and you can see patches of clear sky between them. This combination—a sheet-like base with distinct, puffy elements and gaps of blue—fits the description best. It’s different from pure cumulus, which tends to be individual, isolated puffs, and from a uniform stratus layer, which covers more evenly with little break in the sky. The option describing turbulence isn’t a cloud type, so it doesn’t apply.