Altostratus is a
cloudA cloud is a visible mass of droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. A cloud is also a visible mass attracted by gravity, such as masses of material in space called interstellar clouds and nebulae...
belonging to a class characterized by a generally uniform gray sheet or layer,
lighterA lighter is a portable device used to create a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.-History:...
in color than
nimbostratusA Nimbostratus cloud is characterized by a formless cloud layer that is almost uniformly dark gray. "Nimbo" is from the Latin word "nimbus", meaning rain. It is a stratiform cloud that produces rain, developing cloud bases between the surface and 10000 ft . Nimbostratus usually has a thickness of...
and
darker-Releases:Synthetic Symphony a division of SPV GmbH
Cat# CD 085-61572 SPV Wax Trax! Records a label of TVT Records
Cat# TVT 7252-2-Track listing:# "Random" – 4:53...
than
cirrostratusCirrostratus clouds are thin, generally uniform clouds, composed of ice-crystals, capable of forming halos. They are usually located above 5.5 km . When thick enough to be seen, they are whitish, usually with no distinguishing features...
. The sun can be seen shining through them, and they frequently cover the whole sky. They are similar to lower altitude
stratus cloudA stratus cloud is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide . More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds of low altitude varying in color...
s.
Altostratus is caused by a large
air massIn meteorology, an air mass is a large volume of air defined by its temperature and water vapor content. Air masses cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles, and adopt the characteristics of the surface below them. They are classified according to latitude and their continental or...
that is lifted then condensed, usually by an incoming frontal system and can be found over widespread areas.
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Altostratus is a
cloudA cloud is a visible mass of droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. A cloud is also a visible mass attracted by gravity, such as masses of material in space called interstellar clouds and nebulae...
belonging to a class characterized by a generally uniform gray sheet or layer,
lighterA lighter is a portable device used to create a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.-History:...
in color than
nimbostratusA Nimbostratus cloud is characterized by a formless cloud layer that is almost uniformly dark gray. "Nimbo" is from the Latin word "nimbus", meaning rain. It is a stratiform cloud that produces rain, developing cloud bases between the surface and 10000 ft . Nimbostratus usually has a thickness of...
and
darker-Releases:Synthetic Symphony a division of SPV GmbH
Cat# CD 085-61572 SPV Wax Trax! Records a label of TVT Records
Cat# TVT 7252-2-Track listing:# "Random" – 4:53...
than
cirrostratusCirrostratus clouds are thin, generally uniform clouds, composed of ice-crystals, capable of forming halos. They are usually located above 5.5 km . When thick enough to be seen, they are whitish, usually with no distinguishing features...
. The sun can be seen shining through them, and they frequently cover the whole sky. They are similar to lower altitude
stratus cloudA stratus cloud is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide . More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds of low altitude varying in color...
s.
Altostratus is caused by a large
air massIn meteorology, an air mass is a large volume of air defined by its temperature and water vapor content. Air masses cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles, and adopt the characteristics of the surface below them. They are classified according to latitude and their continental or...
that is lifted then condensed, usually by an incoming frontal system and can be found over widespread areas. Altostratus clouds are potentially dangerous, because they can cause
ice accretionAtmospheric icing occurs when water droplets in the atmosphere freeze on objects they contact. This is very dangerous on aircraft, as the built-up ice changes the aerodynamics of the flight surfaces, which can increase the risk of a subsequent stalling of the airfoil.Not all water freezes at 0°C...
on
aircraftAn aircraft is a vehicle which is able to fly by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to fly by being supported...
. Their altitude is from 8,000-20,000 feet (2,400-6,100 m). They are made from ice crystals.
Altostratus clouds can produce very light precipitation. However, the precipitation may be
virgaIn meteorology, virga is an observable streak or shaft of precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. At high altitudes the precipitation falls mainly as ice crystals before melting and finally evaporating; this is usually due to compressional heating, because...
, especially in dry places. They are also at a medium altitude, but they can sometimes bring the altitude lower to produce rain and/or snow due to the weight of the cloud. Once the cloud seems to be lower, the sun can no longer be seen.
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