Low-Level Clouds, pt. II

As we continue our discussion of low-level clouds, we turn our attention to the second general classification of clouds: stratus. Stratus clouds can be identified by their almost uniform appearance. They look like a sheet of gray that covers all or part of the sky. As a result of their uniformity, they are among the most boring clouds to photograph. The two pictures above show examples of stratus clouds. (In the first picture, incidentally taken in Turkey, the stratus clouds are in the background, not the foreground, which is a cumulus fragmatus or scud.) In each case, although there may appear to be some variation within the cloud structure, the clouds do not form the "cotton-ball" texture of cumulus clouds.
Stratus clouds may simply cover the sky without producing rain, as in the case of the first picture, or they may be a variation called nimbostratus. "Nimbo," as it does in the word cumulonimbus, signifies rain. Thus, nimbostratus clouds, such as those in the second picture, are rain-producing stratus clouds.
The final type of stratus cloud that I should mention is one that we are all familiar with, even though few of us have ever taken a picture of it or enjoyed it: fog. Fog is in reality a cloud that has formed at or near ground level. While there are several possible mechanisms for the fog forming, the end result is usually some type of stratus cloud. So, if you've ever wondered what it would be like to be inside a cloud, remember what it was like the last time you walked or drove through fog. You'll have your answer.