stratocumulus

American  

[strey-toh-kyoo-myuh-luhs, strat-oh-] / ˌstreɪ toʊˈkju mjə ləs, ˌstræt oʊ- /

noun

stratocumulus plural

1. a cloud of a class 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 altitude, usually below 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).

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stratocumulus British  

/ ˌstreɪtəʊ-, ˌstrætəʊˈkjuːmjʊləs /

noun

1. meteorol a uniform stretch of cloud containing dark grey globular masses

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stratocumulus Scientific  

/ străt′ō-kyo̅o̅m′yə-ləs /

stratocumuli plural

1. A low-altitude, often patchy cloud occurring in extensive horizontal layers with distinct, rounded tops.

2. See illustration at cloud

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stratocumulus
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stratocumulus

1890–95; strato- + cumulus ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stratocumulus

Her blonde locks are teased so high above her head that depending on who you ask, it looks like a bird's nest or a stratocumulus cloud.

From Salon ● May 7, 2024

Marine stratocumulus clouds over the southeastern Pacific Ocean, captured by NASA’s Terra satellite in 2002.Credit...NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL,

From New York Times ● May 3, 2024

Whereas crepuscular rays headlined Tuesday’s sunrise, Monday’s sunrise presented more texture and variety as the sun’s rays intercepted a mix of cloud types — stratus, altostratus, stratocumulus and cirrus.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 5, 2021

One way they’ve collected the data they need to make these calculations is by flying through stratocumulus clouds with “dangling instruments from airplane wings to measure atmospheric conditions and bounce lasers off of cloud droplets.”

From Slate ● Feb. 26, 2019

The clouds in the latest viral photos are called stratocumulus standing lenticularis, because of their height and shape.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 9, 2015