Precipitation cloud? No Indicates precipitation No Abbreviation Cs neb | Appearance Smooth, fog-like veil Classification Family A (high-level) Minimum altitude (feet) 20,000 | |
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Genus Cirrus- (curl of hair)
-stratus (layered) Species nebulosus (full of vapor) | ||
Cirrostratus nebulosus is a type of cirrostratus cloud. The name cirrostratus nebulosus is derived from Latin, meaning "full of vapor, foggy, cloudy, dark". Cirrostratus nebulosus is one of the two most common forms that cirrostratus often takes, with the other being cirrostratus fibratus. The nebulosus species is featureless and uniform, while the fibratus species has a fibrous appearance. Cirrostratus nebulosus are formed by gently rising air. The cloud is often hard to see unless the sun shines through it at the correct angle, forming a halo. While usually very light, the cloud may also be very dense, and the exact appearance of the cloud can vary from one formation to another. In the winter, precipitation often follows behind these clouds; however, they are not a precipitation-producing cloud.