C_L5 Sc not from spreading out of Cu

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Gallery
© P.J.B. Nye	© J.F.P. Galvin
© D. Philips	© S.D. Glassey

Stratocumulus occurs in patches or layers, composed of rounded masses or rolls, at one or more levels. The clouds are grey or whitish and always have dark parts. When in the form of dark rolls (top left photograph), the edges often merge to form a continuous layer. Sometimes the elements lie in parallel bands (top right). Due to perspective these may appear to converge towards the horizon. Sometimes the cloud is not very dense and gaps may appear between the elements (bottom left). In the tropics stratocumulus may occur as a large, single roll cloud. It may also occur in the shape of lenses or almonds, although this is fairly rare. One particular species, called stratocumulus castellanus, has cumulus-like turrets rising from a common horizontal base (bottom right). The turrets may develop into large cumulus (when the coding becomes C_L=2 [C=8]) or even cumulonimbus.

Stratus C_L6 (C7) may lift to become stratocumulus C_L5 (C6). Stratocumulus often forms beneath nimbostratus C_M2 (C5).

Classification
Description: Stratocumulus not resulting from the spreading out of Cumulus.	Designation: CH=5 (C6)
	Latin name: Stratocumulus (Sc) [plus several species and varieties].

Related pages: Cloud classification | C_L guide | C_M guide | C_H guide | Cloud index